Charities Call For Of Social Care Funding On NHS 75th Anniversary
An alliance of leading charities is calling on UK political party leaders to give the NHS a properly funded social care system for as it celebrates it 75th birthday.
The Care and Support Alliance (CSA) represents over 60 of England’s leading charities campaigning for a properly funded care system alongside the millions of older people, disabled people and their carers, said the neglect of the social care sector is becoming “increasingly unsustainable and exacerbating the challenges faced by the NHS”, and has called for a “reformed and properly funded social care system” which it said would not only be helpful to millions of older and disabled people and their carers, but would also reduce the pressure on the NHS, so that it can concentrate on tackling record high waiting lists.
The alliance said emergency departments at hospitals “are seeing increasing numbers of people admitted because they aren’t receiving the care and support they need to remain independent at home”, and those people are then often unable to be discharged as “the right care packages aren’t in place”.
The alliance said: “It’s a vicious circle that’s causing significant heartache and distress to service users – and huge difficulties for the NHS too.”
According to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), around half a million people may be waiting either for an adult social care assessment, for care or a direct payment to begin, or for a review of their care.
care, 16% are awaiting a care home place and 24% are waiting for intermediate care.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director of Age UK and Care and Support Alliance Co-chair, said,
‘The 75th birthday of the NHS is a momentous occasion, and opportunity to celebrate the incredible work its staff do day in day out.
‘But the NHS is struggling, short of staff and short of beds, culminating in the longest waiting lists in its history.
‘It is important for politicians to recognise just how much harder the situation is being made by the lack of social care available to prevent unplanned admissions and allow people to be safely discharged. The financial cost is staggering, but the human cost is arguably even greater, with many older and disabled people finding this means their recovery and rehabilitation is seriously delayed or in the worst cases, completely unattainable.
‘The impact is also felt by the rest of the population, who face hours of delay at A&E departments as they wait for a bed to become available or are languishing on a waiting lists to see a specialist or have an operation.
‘As the population ages, and as more people live longer with multiple, complex, conditions, the neglect of social care is becoming increasingly unsustainable and is only exacerbating the challenges faced by the NHS.
‘That’s why the best gift the NHS could receive on its 75th birthday is a properly funded social care system. This would not only be hugely important for millions of older and disabled people and their carers who deserve decent care but would also reduce the demand on the NHS, so that it can concentrate on tackling record high waiting lists for the benefit of all.’
