Campaigner Warns Lords Over State Of Care Sector

A North Yorkshire campaigner told a House of Lord meeting that the country cannot wait any longer for an end to the crisis in the way the country looks after older, vulnerable, and disabled people.

Mike Padgham told Liberal Democrat peers that social care providers were leaving the sector, care was being rationed and the number of people going without was set to rocket from its current 2m.

And he warned that the country couldn’t wait for the proposed Royal Commission and urged politicians to include social care providers in the search for an urgent solution to the crisis.

Mr Padgham, Chair of the social care provider body, the Independent Care Group (ICG), said: “This was a rare opportunity to put across to peers the true extent of the crisis facing the care of our most vulnerable.

“I was at pains to point out that the crisis is deepening and more and more people are going to be left without the care they need.”

Tasked with offering solutions to the crisis, Mr Padgham said the country needed a true National Care Service – with NHS healthcare and social care brought under one roof – as soon as possible.

And he suggested that social care should be overseen by the Secretary of State until the National Care Service was formed and that there had to be an end to the duplication of inspection.

“Above all, I said social care providers were willing to help the government and politicians to find urgent solutions to the crisis, as we know they cannot do it alone,” Mr Padgham added.

“I think the country is sick of hearing phrases like switching from hospital to community or prevention rather than care – we need to see some concrete action. Warm words don’t give people the care they need.”
The proposed increase in Employer’s National Insurance contributions, along with increases in the National Living and National Minimum wages, are pushing many providers to fear for the future.

Last month, a survey of 1,180 care providers, carried out by the Care Provider Alliance, found that 22% of those who responded were planning to close their business; 73% will have to refuse new referrals from local authorities or the NHS; 57% planned to hand back some contracts and 64% feared having to make staff redundant.

“I warned the meeting that if those things happen as the survey predicts, more and more people will end up going without the care they need, adding to the 2m who currently can’t access care,” Mr Padgham added.

After the round table meeting with peers, Mr Padgham held talks with Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Tom Gordon and Thirsk and Malton MP, Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.