For immediate release 16th March
The Care and Support Alliance’s response to the Government’s Budget March 2016
Vicky McDermott, Chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said
“The Chancellor claims to be investing in our physical and cultural infrastructure but is ignoring an essential infrastructure of our country – social care. Without adequate social care funding, disabled and older people are ignored and carers are forced to drop out of work.
“This Government continues to fail to address the chronic underfunding of social care which means more than a million vulnerable disabled and older people and their carers lose out on basic care such as washing and feeding themselves (1).
“Even with the social care council tax precept there will be an absolute minimum £1.4 billion gap in social care funding from this April, and £1.6 billion the following year, even if every council introduced the maximum 2% precept allowed.
“Care homes and home care companies are at risk of collapse as councils cannot afford to pay the full market rate for care. We urge the Government to properly address the crisis in social care, because the
funding crisis is causing unnecessary suffering for some of the most vulnerable in society.”
Ends
1) http://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-news/archive/over-a-million-older-people-struggling-to-cope-alone/
The Care and Support Alliance represents more than 80 of Britain’s leading charities campaigning alongside the millions of older people, disabled people and their carers who deserve decent care.
Media Contact
Mel Merritt, Media and Campaigns Manager, Care and Support Alliance, mel.merritt@nas.org.uk
Tel: 020 7923 5770 / Out of hours: 07855 372433
