LGA responds to new House of Lords Select Committee report on sustainability of NHS

6 Apr 2017 09:16 AM

Cllr Linda Thomas, Vice Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, says an adequately funded social care and support system is essential for supporting the sustainability of the NHS by reducing the demand it faces.

"Securing the long-term sustainability of adult social care is vital. Adult social care is critical to the health and wellbeing of people with a complex range of often intense needs, their carers and families, and our communities more generally. An adequately funded social care and support system is essential for supporting the sustainability of the NHS by reducing the demand it faces. Equally, what the NHS does or does not do can have an important impact for social care; reductions in services such as incontinence treatment, stroke rehabilitation and NHS continuing care increase pressure on adult social care. Without investment in primary, community and social care services we will continue to wrongly focus on where pressures present, rather than tackling them at their source.

"The announcement of £2 billion for adult social care in the Budget marks a significant step towards protecting the services caring for older and disabled people in our communities over the next few years. However, this is a short-term measure that does not address all short-term pressures and it gets us no closer to a long-term solution to tackling the funding crisis to help provide care and support for people to enable them to live more independent, fulfilled lives.

"The Government's commitment in this year's Budget to publish a Green Paper which explores options for a long-term solution to reform and fully fund our care system is a key opportunity to establish how, as a society, we should best support people of all ages with care and support needs in our communities both now and in the future.

"For the Green Paper to be successful, local government leaders must play a central role so that any solutions are workable, affordable, and support the spirit and letter of the Care Act, which councils are fully committed to.

"Councils, working with their local partners, must have full flexibility over how they use this funding to ensure it is directed to where it is most needed and so that it helps people live independently in their communities and surrounded by their families and friends."

View report:  Long-term sustainability of NHS and Adult Social Care under threat