Ministers urged to carry out ‘urgent’ care system review
Research reveals major concerns over services’ future
MINISTERS ARE under pressure to carry out an “urgent” review of the country’s health and social care sector as new research reveals the scale of concern about the future of vital local services.
The region’s MPs and campaigners are urging the Government to commit to a “fundamental” review of the social care system to ensure it can provide sustainable support for generations to come.
Around 90 per cent of MPs do not believe the care system is fit to cope with the challenges of an ageing population, while 85 per cent say it receives too little funding, a new survey has revealed.
It follows stark warnings that the sector is on the brink of collapse due to increasing demand and a squeeze on resources.
Clive Betts, Sheffield South East MP and Department for Communities and Local Government select committee chairman, told The Yorkshire Post: “This poll is entirely consistent with the report we did at the end of the last Parliament, which called for a fundamental review of not only the funding but the whole way that social care operates. This is about having a properly skilled workforce, proper career progression, and proper terms and conditions for people who are delivering a very important service.
“We’ve had around nine per cent cuts in real terms in social care funding since 2010.
“The number of elderly people needing care has gone up and there have been cuts in the budget. That all adds up to a significant problem that needs immediately addressing.”
The research, carried out by Independent Age, of 101 English MPs found that only 10 per cent believe the current social care system is suitable for the UK’s ageing population. Ministers have previously acknowledged that the system is under significant pressure, announcing two emergency funding packages in December and March totalling £2.9bn.
They have also committed to publishing a green paper on social care reform.
However, MPs argue any review needs to be wide-ranging and have cross-party support.
The former CLG committee member and Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, Kevin Holinrake warned that otherwise the crisis will continue.
“There have been successive rounds of funding which have plugged the short term gap, but it’s the medium and longer term problem that we need to solve,” he said.
“It is a ticking time bomb and unless we do something structural and strategic to solve [it] then we are going to be fighting this for many decades.”
A Government spokesman said: “[We are] absolutely committed to improving social care in this country, which is why we have provided an additional £2bn for the sector.”
It’s a ticking time bomb...we are going to be fighting this for many decades. Kevin Holinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton.