In response to the Backbench Business Committee’s Westminster Hall debate on the funding of social care, the Care & Support Alliance has issued a statement welcoming the debate on how we pay for care for older and disabled people, and has called on the Government for urgent action to end the ‘care crisis’.
Following the report of the independent Dilnot Commission on Funding of Care and Support in July, Conservative MP Sarah Newton, has secured a parliamentary debate on Thursday afternoon on how to fund care for an ageing population in the future.
The Care & Support Alliance of 50 charities, including Carers UK, Age UK, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Sense and Macmillan Cancer Support, argues that funding for social care has failed to keep pace with increasing demand as our population ages, as people live longer with disabilities and long-term conditions, and that this has been exacerbated by recent cuts to local government spending:
A survey by Directors of Social Services shows overall social care budget reductions of £1 billion for 2011-12, at a time where increased demand should require £425 million worth of new services.[1]
The Dilnot Commission’s recommendations for a proposed new cap on care bills, a national system of eligibility and a new advice and information service for families accessing care were warmly welcomed by the Alliance.
In response, the Government has committed to bringing forward a White Paper on Social Care by Easter 2012, and theAlliancehas urged the Government to ensure that the White Paper delivers fundamental reform. In a joint statement following the report of the Commission, the Care & Support Alliance, said:
‘For too long, the social care system has been chronically underfunded, leaving disabled and older people and their families with an outdated care system which is not fit for purpose. We urge the Government to urgently deliver a long term solution on care funding that can weather political and economic change and meets everyone’s needs – from young adults with disabilities to older people.’
[1] ADASS Budget Survey 2011 (2011) The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
