Today Chancellor George Osborne set out his last budget before the election. The Care and Support Alliance is disappointed that there were no new announcements that would help tackle the crisis in social care funding.
Responding to the Budget Richard Hawkes, Chair of the Care & Support Alliance, said:
“We are disappointed that there is no extra funding for social care in the budget.
“The care system is on its knees, and there is an urgent need protect both health and social care funding.
“Nine in ten GPs fear that social care services are not providing a sufficient level of care for patients, leading to extra pressure on surgeries and other parts of the health system.
“As more and more of us need support fewer and fewer of us are getting it.
“Chronic underfunding has left hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people, who need support to do the basics, like getting up or out of the house, cut out of the care system.
“People become isolated, can’t live on their own and slip into crisis. The impact is now being felt throughout the health service which is being forced to pick up the pieces. This also has a huge impact on carers, who we know are struggling right now.
“We believe the Government needs to commit to serious investment in care, as well as in the health system. As health experts argue, anything else is a false economy.”