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Funding delays condemned
CARE & SUPPORT ALLIANCE CONDEMNS CARE FUNDING DELAYS
Charities welcome structural reform of care system but say older and disabled people will feel ‘betrayed by delay’ on funding
In a joint statement, the Care & Support Alliance, comprising the 65 major organisations representing older and disabled people and carers, said:
“As the social care system faces collapse, the key test for this White Paper was to deliver an urgent timetable to reform social care funding. The Government has failed this test.
If long-term funding commitments had been set in place, this would have given some of the positive measures in the White Paper a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of disabled and older people and carers. In particular, the welcome creation of national eligibility criteria to begin to end the postcode lottery in care, and new social care legislation to establish a modern, clear and strong legal foundation for social care.
Whilst support for the principle of a cap on care costs is a first step, the Government has failed to recognise the urgency of this crisis by postponing crucial decisions on paying for reform. Adult social care is already chronically starved of the funds it needs to provide essential support to older and disabled people and their families. With demand growing, this situation is getting worse.
Older and disabled people and their families have waited long enough and feel betrayed by yet more delay. Each day of delay condemns greater numbers of older and disabled people to the risk of isolation and neglect. Many more will be trapped in hospital beds because they cannot be cared for at home, and yet more families will be pushed to breaking point caring alone for sick loved ones.”
The Care & Support Alliance
The Care & Support Alliance is a consortium of over 65 organisations, including Real Life Options, who represent and support older people, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and their families. We are working together to promote urgent reform to tackle the crisis in our care system. www.careandsupportalliance.org
