Vulnerable people die awaiting social care

social care services still face a £3.5billion funding gap by 2025, just to maintain existing standards of care.

“The likely consequences of this are more and more people being unable to get quality and reliable care and support, which enables them to live more fulfilling lives. Action is needed.”

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: “The Government often says it has invested more in social care over the last two years, but it’s not been nearly enough since the numbers of older people going without the support they need are continuing to rise – and quite sharply.

“If an older person needs social care but can’t get it, this is a sure-fire recipe for them to become weaker and less well. They are at far greater risk of not eating enough and of falling and hurting themselves because of trying to do more than they really should.

“Their lives are likely to be diminished and made more miserable. Is this what we want for our parents and grandparents, husbands and wives, older neighbours and friends in 2018?”

She added: “We all depend on the NHS so we all lose out if it has less money to spend due to the lack of social care.

“But it’s our older population who are paying the highest price of all – with their health, their happiness and sometimes even their lives.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The health and care system is working hard to ensure patients return home from hospital once their treatment has finished.

“And we have invested an extra £240million for councils to help reduce pressures on the NHS this winter by getting patients home quicker and freeing up hospital beds.

“We have provided local authorities with access to up to £3.6billion more dedicated funding for adult social care this year and up to £3.9billion for next year, helping people to live independently for longer.”