Today (30 October), the Department of Communities and Local Government, and the Department of Health, approved local plans for Better Care Fund (BCF) spending and announced further money for the scheme following increased investment from local authorities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-care-plans-to-help-elderly-and-reduce-hospital-visits#
The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, wrote in the Telegraph yesterday that the £5.3 billion – an increase from the initial £3.8bn – will be invested in 151 plans across the country to help keep elderly people healthy at home, and avoid needless admissions to hospitals and care homes.
Responding to this announcement, Richard Hawkes, Chair of the Care & Support Alliance, said:
“The Better Care Fund is a bold and ambitious bid to address the crisis in care and move us closer to a preventive, more integrated, system that keeps people out of A&E and living independently.
“But the real issue is that chronic underfunding has seen a year-on-year rationing of support, which will not be addressed by this fund.
“The only long-term solution to the care crisis is a longer term investment in the overall funding for adult social care.
“The Barker Commission experts argue that as a country we can afford it.
“In fact we can’t afford not to. Every day, our 76 organisations hear horror stories of older and disabled people who struggle to get the support they need to simply get up, get dressed and get out of the house. This has a huge impact on carers, who we know are struggling right now.
“Care – along with the NHS – is now undoubtedly an election issue. Our recent survey shows the public has lost confidence in the current system. It shows care, along with health, is where the public want the Government to invest more.”
For more information, please visit http://careandsupportalliance.com/
