MP Takes Up Campaign For Care

A campaign being run by Springhill Care Group in Accrington to raise awareness of the unsung heroes of the care sector and the dangers it faces is being taken to the top.

Accrington MP Graham Jones is supporting the initiative by the national care group to highlight the sterling work that is carried out by the industry despite funding cuts – and issuing a stark warning at the same time.

The MP has met with senior representatives from Age UK to discuss the adult social care crisis, written to David Mowat MP, the Minister responsible for social care, and is raising a question in Parliament.

He said: “Although the current crisis affects older people across the country, it is hitting poorer, rural constituencies such as Hyndburn the hardest. With ageing populations and insufficient funding from central government, Lancashire County Council is hard-pressed.’

In Lancashire, the county council faces a funding gap in adult social services of £26m which could rise to £92 million by 2021. Its leaders have called on the Government to address this ‘unsustainable’ funding crisis.

Donna Briggs, managing director of Springhill Care, said: “We are trying to highlight the issues on behalf of our employees and all of those working in the care sector and we appreciate this support from Graham.

“Our concern extends to the gaps in skills and how we are going to fill them based on current needs and the projections into the future.”

Springhill Care Group is asking people to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #caringheroes.

The adult social care sector in England faces a gap of 200,000 care workers by the end of this Parliament. The Association of Directors of Adult Services estimates that there is a current funding gap of £1 billion a year, while the King’s Fund estimates this gap could rise to £3.5 billion a year by 2019.