NHS Confederation - Social care commissioners must be compensated

13 Feb 2018 09:10 AM

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, responded to the National Audit Office report on the adult social care workforce in England published last week

“This report is shocking. Social care in England is a mess – the fact nearly 30 per cent of staff quit every year shows just how bad things have become.

“The government has a workforce review and has promised a Green Paper but we do now need reform urgently. The system is grossly underfunded and undervalued and until both issues are tackled some of the most vulnerable will continue to suffer.

“The truth is many staff are no longer prepared to work in this sector and future prospects are not good either. The Government’s promise of compensating the NHS for nurse pay increases if the cap is lifted is welcome, but if NHS nurses do get more, social care commissioners must also be compensated so they can retain nurses in social care who are so desperately needed.”

NAO report:  The adult social care workforce in England