CAMPAIGNERS have warned that the number of people going without the care they need will rocket because local authorities are running out of money to pay for it.
A new report from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services ays 81 per cent of councils are set to overspend their social care budget this financial year.
The Independent Care Group said that would only mean one thing – fewer people getting the care they need.
It urged the government to switch money from the NHS to social care urgently to tackle the ongoing crisis in the sector. Two million people are currently living with an unmet care need.
ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “The results of the ADASS survey make grim reading for the social care sector. Councils running out of money can only result in less care being commissioned and lower prices paid for what care councils do buy.
“All of that spells clear and present danger for social care – and that is before the impact of the rise in employer’s National Insurance and increases in the National Living and Minimum wages come into force.
“Government after government have all turned a blind eye to the crisis in social care and to endless reports, like today’s from ADASS, which have warned of increasing problems.
“Some 14 health secretaries and 17 social care ministers have come and gone in the past 20 years and we have seen endless reports, commissions and strategies come and go without any meaningful change.
“This new Government will need to act, switch resources into social care from the NHS immediately, so that councils can keep commissioning care, otherwise the 2m who currently can’t get care will be 3m and then 4m before you know it.
“We need the Government to visit the frontline of care, see the crisis for themselves and take action. Those of us in social care are sick of saying, ‘we are in crisis’, something has to give.”