Tag Archives: ukcuts
Watchdog warns over social care cuts
Central and local government are unaware how long adult social care systems can cope under mounting pressure, a report has suggested.
Thomas Bridge 13 March 2014
Government departments do not know how close the adult care system is to reaching capacity, while major health reforms set to be introduced by the Care Bill will cause further ‘significant challenges’ for councils – according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
Town hall spending on adult social care fell by 8% between 2010/11 and 2012/13, with 87% of adults now living in regions that arrange services only for individuals with substantial or critical needs.
While the Department for Communities and Local Government expects service transformation, local efficiency initiatives and the Better Care Fund will ease financial pressures, the NAO said there was ‘weak evidence’ for which way of commissioning services was most effective.
Auditors added that efforts by DCLG and the Department of Health to understand the impact of changes or reduced spending on care, welfare and local services were not being matched by other government departments.
Many vulnerable people denied care, says Age UK
A “catastrophic” situation is developing in England
A “catastrophic” situation is developing in England with many vulnerable elderly people being denied care, campaigners say.
An analysis by Age UK found the proportion of over-65s getting help had fallen by a third since 2005-6.
Last year, under 900,000 over-65s got help – one in 10 people in that group – compared with 15% seven years ago.
The review – based on published data – estimated at least 800,000 older people were going without vital help.
This includes council-funded help in the home with daily tasks such as washing, dressing and eating as well as care home places.
45,000 elderly and disabled people in North-East and N Yorkshire have ‘lost’ council-funded care
MORE than 45,000 elderly and disabled people across the region have “lost” council-funded care in just three years, campaigners are warning.
9:40pm Wednesday 12th February 2014 in News By Robert Merrick, Parliamentary Correspondent
Fall in access to social care The huge decline – of almost one fifth across the North-East and Yorkshire – is the result of “chronic underfunding” of town halls, the Care and Support Alliance said.
Cash-starved authorities are being forced to “ration” care – even to people who need help to “to get up, get washed, and get dressed and get out of the house”
Now the Alliance is warning the Government’s flagship plans to reform the battered care system will fail unless councils are given “long term, sustainable funding”.
Richard Hawkes, its chairman, said: “Like most other parts of the country, the North-East and Yorkshire are experiencing a squeeze on social care.
“Chronic underfunding has left large numbers 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.”
