Our response to announcement of social care green paper

Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and Economics at the Health Foundation, said:

‘The government’s commitment to publish a green paper on social care next summer is very welcome news.

‘Social care is in desperate need of wide-ranging reform so that it provides fair funding, high-quality support for the most vulnerable and decent working conditions for those who provide care.

‘The need for social care is rising year on year due to an ageing population and increases in the costs of caring for people with long-term disabilities. Funding to address a growing social care crisis has simply not been sufficient - our recent analysis highlighted that the sector is facing a £2.5 billion funding gap by 2019/20, which may leave thousands more older and disabled people missing out on vital care.

‘As well as a timetable for the green paper the government also needs to address the urgent funding problems facing social care. The Chancellor needs to make firm commitments in his Budget next week to bridge the growing financial gap between need and available resources.’

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