LGA responds to Which? care home market investigation

30 Nov 2017 09:16 AM

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to an investigation by Which? into the care home market 

“These findings show that the social care crisis is very real and that already we are seeing the consequences of the chronic underfunding of the system on providers and the quality of care.

“The announcement of a social care green paper next summer will be important in delivering long-term reform, but older and disabled people who need care and support right now cannot be left to make do with sub-standard quality until then. Urgent action is needed now.

“We estimate that there is a £1.3 billion funding gap between what providers say they need and what councils currently pay. This is an immediate gap that is impacting on the system today.

“While it was hugely disappointing the Government didn’t address this funding gap in the Autumn Budget, it needs to put this right in the Local Government Finance Settlement.

“If the system is left to carry on as it is, then we will see more and more providers either pulling out of council contracts or going out of business altogether.”

Notes to editors

We estimate that social care faces an overall annual funding gap of £2.3 billion by the end of the decade. This includes pressures on the provider sector of £1.3 billion right now.

 Which? article