News

Is the government's spending review good news for social care?

Len Smith
Gypsy Traveller Law Reform Coalition

The increase in social housing funding is barely adequate but the problems facing gypsies and travellers are worse due to the removal of the duty on local authorities to provide sites. The government should allocate funds under social accommodation schemes, to provide residential and transit sites.

Jaya Kathrecha
Carer

I'm involved with our local mental health trust and it always seems that any extra cash just gets absorbed at a higher level and it never reaches the areas where it is most needed. Integrated services just seems to lead to more managers. No one seems to be monitoring what happens to funding.

Karen Shook
Disability equality adviser

Brown has increased spending on the NHS in order to meet waiting list election promises. Money is targeted on acute services, forcing community health and social care services to make cuts. This is at odds with government support for preventive and community help which maintains people's independence.

Peter Beresford

Mental health service survivor

It's the old story - pro rata, less to social care than to health. More important, how much of the spend is reaching service users and providing the support for them to live more independently? It's time to audit social care spending to see how far it secures service users' rights, opportunities and quality of life.