Gaps in care cost billions each year

Gaps between health and social care services and the failure to
support the full range of people’s needs are costing society
£7.83bn a year, according to new research.

A study, carried out by social care organisation Turning Point,
says that people with a mixture of needs are falling through the
gaps between services and sometimes don’t get the support they need
until crisis point.

The findings show that most of the £7.83bn annual cost comes
from homelessness, the criminal justice system and reoffending
while other considerable elements include long-term unemployment,
incapacity and other benefits.

The charity has called for the creation of “connected care centres”
that it says would provide all of the support services a community
requires under one roof. 

– Turning 40 is available from www.turning-point.co.uk