Social care needs cash for protection from effects of NHS deficits

Adult social care requires an urgent specific grant of around £200 milllion because of the effect of the NHS financial crisis, MPs and peers heard on Tuesday this week.
 
British Association of Social Workers chair Ray Jones said councils should receive around 20 per cent of their area’s NHS deficit as ring-fenced funding, to protect them against cost-shunting from the health service.
 
Speaking at a joint inquiry into the health and social care white paper, held by the all-party parliamentary groups on social care and primary care and public health, Jones said this was one of a number of financial measures required to deliver the proposed legislation.
 
The others included ensuring a good settlement for social care in next year’s comprehensive spending review and protecting NHS community serices against cuts.
 
The inquiry reconvenes on 3 July, when it will take evidence from Sir Derek Wanless and representatives from the Association of Directors of Social Services and the Local Government Association.