Adult care chief raps government over ‘dithering’

ROCHDALE’S adult care boss has accused the government of ‘dither and delay’ over its continued failure to find a longterm funding solution for social care.

Coun Iftikhar Ahmed spoke out after the Department for Health announced that the publication of its green paper for reforming adult social care had been pushed back to the autumn. It is the second time in just six months that the long-awaited proposals have been shelved, drawing widespread criticism across local government.

And Coun Ahmed said the wait was a kick in the teeth for Rochdale council which has seen nearly £200m of government cuts in the last eight years.

He green appear delayed.

“However, the issue will not go away and the said: “This vital paper would to be forever government can’t keep running away from reality or expecting local council taxpayers to foot the bill alone.

“Its continued dither and delay is not helping the social care sector which has been starved of investment for far too long.

“We are managing to maintain high quality services in Rochdale thanks to good management, high-quality staff and sound decision making.

“However, we can’t swim against the tide forever and the government needs to act and act quickly before the social sector faces a major crisis.”

Lord Porter, chair of the Local Government Association, voiced his concerns, saying the wellbeing of vulnerable adults and children was now at risk due to cuts to local authority budgets.

And David Behan, head of the Care Quality Commission, warned that government cuts to English councils meant over a million people across the country were not receiving the social care they need.

Last December the government delayed the green paper, saying it needed more time to find a solution to the national £2.3 billion funding gap facing adult social care by 2020.

Now Whitehall officials have again postponed publication, promising the document will ensure social care is fully integrated with the recently announced NHS plan.

Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts ●●Coun Iftikhar Ahmed hit out at the government after its green paper on reforming adult social care was pushed back to the autumn committee, said: “Health and social care is at a vital crossroads. But with the two sectors operating under separate regimes, achieving true integration will be no mean feat.

“With the promised extra funding for the NHS from next April, we need to be clear if this will be matched for social care.

“When discussing the money, the Government has got to start putting the patient at the centre of its thinking.”