‘Cavalry isn’t coming’... fury at lack of help for crisis-hit care sector
ANGER is growing at the lack of action in the Budget to reform a social care system on the brink.
Campaigners and experts said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made no mention of the crisis-hit sector on Wednesday, leaving critics to declare: “The cavalry isn’t coming!”
This is despite millions of older people waiting for care, thousands dying before getting any help and the catastrophic care costs paid by those in the system.
And fury was fuelled by figures showing 42 per cent of care homes have closed a part of their organisation or handed back contracts to local authorities because of high costs.
Opportunity
Professor Martin Green OBE, boss of Care England, the biggest group of care providers, said adult social care appeared to fall down the list of priorities in 2022.
He added: “This week’s spring Budget was another opportunity to move towards a sustainable funding settlement for the sector.
“It was an opportunity that, unfortunately, the Government did not take. Amid a workforce crisis and rising vacancies, the rising cost of living and increasing energy costs, the stabilisation of the adult social care sector should be the Government’s priority.”
Max Parmentier, co-founder of home health technology company birdie, said: “The cavalry isn’t coming. This Budget completely ignored the NHS and adult social care crisis, making it clear impactful change is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
“Millions of older people are waiting for care across England. Thousands have already died without getting the care they needed. Waiting for meaningful change from the Government will only lead to more tragedies.” Last November Mr Hunt slammed the brakes on introducing a £86,000 cap on catastrophic care costs which forces pensioners to sell their homes to pay. The social care reform was postponed by two years to October 2025. Sarah McClinton, of the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services, said Mr Hunt had missed an opportunity.
She said: “We need a long-term, fully funded plan that meets the needs of older and disabled people and their carers and addresses the staffing crisis.
“We estimate that means another £7billion this year and £9billion next year.”
Care England’s annual report found social care “on the precipice” on rising costs.
More than eight in ten care providers were either in deficit or saw a drop in profit last year.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: “The Chancellor’s avowed aim is to remove barriers to work among the economically inactive.
“But every year many thousands of women and men of working age have to ditch their jobs to care for loved ones, in the absence of a good, reliable and affordable care service being available.
“Until the Government acts on social care the numbers of people in their fifties and sixties leaving the workforce to care are certain to grow.”