Debate rages over adult social care funding

The Department of Health is “arguing forcefully” with the Treasury over the need for a good settlement for adult social care in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review.

Care services minister Ivan Lewis told a parliamentary debate on the public funding of residential care that the demographic challenges facing social care – a rising ageing population and the increasing lifespan of disabled people – were “indisputable and undeniable”.

Lewis’ comments follow growing evidence of the funding pressures on adult services, laid out most recently in the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s state of social care report.

However, in December’s pre-budget report, chancellor Gordon Brown dampened hopes that the sector would receive a good settlement in the comprehensive spending review.