WIREDGOV

Commenting ahead of the launch of the White Paper on Social Care, Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: 

"The Social Care White Paper is the best opportunity government has had in a generation to implement real reform and show it cares about achieving real change, but without funding it will not go far enough. There is an immediate crisis in social care which needs to be urgently addressed now.  

"No one would disagree that care should focus on an individual's needs, but attempts to improve the quality of care are meaningless if there is no money for councils to provide these services. Government needs to commit to tackling the current and growing funding crisis in social care, particularly to support the changing demographics of not just a rapidly aging population, but also the needs of people with disabilities. 

"We now need to see a concrete timescale setting out when reforms will be made and providing a clear indication of where the funding will come from. The money is there, government just needs to be smarter about using it. The NHS last year made a surplus £1.6 billion in its budget, money that could be better spent now on providing preventative services to help elderly and disabled people live independently at home for longer. 

"While the White Paper may offer some of what local government has long been agreed on, the reality is that under the current system there won't be enough money to provide these services to anyone other than the most needy, or those who can afford to pay for all of their own care. This could mean some of the most vulnerable people in society facing further price increases or cuts to services they rely on. 

"This issue goes beyond providing care to our ageing and disabled population, hitting at the heart of our ability to deliver future public services. Without an injection of money into the adult care system to meet rising demand in the short term, alongside a major revision of the way it is paid for and delivered in future, we could see some of the most popular services councils provide, such as parks, leisure centres and public toilets, winding down by the end of the decade. 

"Failure to act now could impact on every part of society and it would be hugely disappointing that, despite agreement from across local government, public service leaders, charities, care providers and community groups, the Government could miss the opportunity to introduce the real reform of the social care system this country desperately needs. 

"Local government is clear about what needs to be done to fix the care system and we are ready to step up and play our part. We call on the Government to do the same and commit to tackling the funding crisis now." 
 

Relevant briefing  

White Paper on Social Care and Funding Update LGA On the Day Briefing 11 July 2012  

Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: Cherie Willers, LGA Press Office, Telephone: 020 7664 3120