Much-needed investment in social care would be welcomed but we urgently need to see long term solutions
26 April 2019
- Ahead of local elections, the Labour Party has said it would provide home help to 160,000 more older people to support them with tasks like dressing, bathing and preparing meals under new plans for social care.
- The proposals include £2.8bn towards increasing the number of home care packages available, with at least 50,000 going to those with dementia.
- Proposals also include £350m towards training to develop the social care workforce, raising the earnings threshold for carers' allowance year on year in line with the national living wage and £350m per year to help people with autism and learning disabilities move back into the community from inpatient units.
- Age UK has estimated that 1,000 older people a day are being admitted to hospital amid a crisis in social care.
Responding to the Labour Party’s announcement on investment in social care packages, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:
“We need an urgent focus on securing a sustainable and fair social care system to meet the needs of the future.
“The NHS and social care are two sides of the same coin. Pressures on social care support following funding cuts are making it more difficult to support vulnerable or older people to live independently and closer to home, often contributing to a rise in admissions and long stays in hospital.
The NHS and social care are two sides of the same coin. Pressures on social care support following funding cuts are making it more difficult to support vulnerable or older people to live independently and closer to home, often contributing to a rise in admissions and long stays in hospital.
Director of Policy and Strategy
“We would welcome any much-needed investment in additional social care packages and support for social care staff and carers. But we need long term solutions as well.
“NHS Providers is one of 15 health organisations in the Health for Care coalition which is led by the NHS Confederation, and calling for urgent action to address the social care crisis. The forthcoming social green paper must be an opportunity for meaningful debate about how we fund and deliver support for vulnerable people.”
Read our letter to the prime minister on behalf of the Heath for Care coalition, co-signed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson.
Read more about the Health for Care coalition, its members and the principles for a future social care system.