Age UK have today called on the Government to invest an additional sum of less than four per cent of the annual NHS budget to address the unmet care needs of more than one million people over 65 years old.

The Care and Support Alliance are supporting Age UK’s call for greater investment in care.

Vicky McDermott, chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said:

“The social care system is in crisis and this new analysis from Age UK points to more evidence of that. For too long there has been chronic underfunding and this has subsequently mounted more problems onto the NHS.

“The member organisations of the Care and Support Alliance frequently hear horror stories about how older and disabled people are struggling with simple care needs that most would take for granted. This is also having a severe impact on carers and family members.

“Now is the time for the Government to act. The Care and Support Alliance calls on George Osborne to use the Spending Review to announce a sustainable funding solution and start readdressing the balance which for too long has been weighed against society’s most vulnerable.

“We welcome the analysis from Age UK and we hope it will encourage the Government to seriously consider investing further funds into the care system.”