Social care cuts are terrifying, council boss says
NEARLY 1,500 vulnerable people could lose care in Sefton as a result of government cuts and “coronavirus back-tracking” in a move described as “terrifying” by a council leader.
Sefton Council leaders have revealed the potential stark reality for adult social care in the borough, with new claims that 450 long term residential care home places would go and a significant proportion of domiciliary care packages.
Labour bosses in the area are expecting a 21% cut, which would mean a £16.8m reduction of the adult social care budget in Sefton – and an estimate of 1,449 people losing care.
They said Westminster’s latest stance was “beyond belief.”
Other key services, the local party said, would be at risk of cuts, with libraries, children’s centres, leisure centres, public parks, road safety, road gritting and street lighting all likely to be hit.
The analysis comes from 2019/20 budget estimates, local authorities’ coronavirus-related costs and income losses, and adult social care budget data from the independent think tank Kings Fund, and figures from the Department for Health and Social Care.
Sefton Council’s Labour Party accused the Government of “backtracking on their pledge to support councils in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.”
The accusation comes amid reports of a nationwide £10bn Covid-19 black hole for local authorities, with adult and social care potentially facing losses of £3.5bn.
Ian Maher, leader of Sefton Council, said: “People in Sefton will find these figures terrifying.
“Everyone in this community knows the sacrifice and the loss we have endured through the coronavirus crisis, and we all know the enormous strain on our carers, and our friends and family who rely on their care.
“It is beyond belief that the Government is not standing by them in their hour of need.
“Sefton supports around 6,900 vulnerable people at any one time throughout the year and a 21% reduction equates to 1,449 vulnerable people losing care across Sefton.
“This would be a hammer blow.
“As leader of Sefton Council, my team and I will do whatever we can to shield those most in need from these cuts, but the reality is that if ministers don’t fulfil their promise and close the £10bn funding gap, then frontline services will bear the brunt and our community will suffer.”
MP Steve Reed, shadow communities and local government secretary, said: “Carers and our loved ones they care for are on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.
“Local authorities are the biggest funders of social care in England – so when the Government promised to stand behind councils through this crisis Labour supported them.
“But now ministers are breaking that promise, leaving councils with a £10bn black hole forcing 21% cuts across the board.
“Unless the Government drops those plans the frontline heroes we’re cheering today will lose their jobs tomorrow and the equivalent of 225,000 frail and frightened older people and vulnerable adults will lose the support they rely on.
“That would be a catastrophe for social care, disastrous for those who lose support as providers are forced out of business, and would once again fail the very people putting their lives on the line to get us through this crisis”
“This government promised to do whatever it takes – if our loved ones see care taken away in their hour of need it will be devastating and unacceptable.
“The Government change course, now.”
Announcing an additional £600m Infection Control Fund funding on May 15, the Local Government Secretary, MP Robert Jenrick, said: “We have already provided councils with over £3.2bn during this pandemic so that they can respond to the immediate pressures they are facing, including supporting social care.
“This new funding will be distributed to councils based on the number of care home beds in their area and will be passed on quickly to care providers.
“It will fund new measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in care homes, minimise infection, keep staff and residents safe and, ultimately, save lives.”
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