Bradford residents my not get the Care they need

12.19.02pm GMT Fri 12th Jan 2007

Lib Dems in Bradford are fighting for people who need help to wash and dress, in their own homes

A report into the state of social care services in England (1) says more families have to find and pay for their own care because local councils have to restrict services to those people who have the greatest needs. The thrust of the report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection has been welcomed by Directors of Social Services who say its further evidence of the fact that services are facing increasing demand while resources are dwindling.

"This report confirms what the Liberal Democrats are saying in Bradford about who pays for social care" said Councillor Jeanette Sunderland. "It's too easy to say that people are living longer and require a greater level of service so we'll tighten the rules about who gets care. This answer is not good enough. People have paid taxes all their lives. They expect that when they become older that the state will provide some basic level of care and be there when it is needed. The whole current thrust of government policy is to push this onto families, friends and neighbours who increasingly have to pick up the bill. Of course families want to help and support their loved ones but they must have the proper amount of support otherwise more people will end up in hospital in crisis".

The LGA recently produced a campaign report - Without a Care? (3) - which shows central government funding has not kept pace with the needs of an ageing population and older people's increasingly complex needs. Support for services such as social care through the general grant has increased by just 14 per cent in real terms since 1997/98. This is in stark contrast to the NHS, which has seen a 90 per cent rise over the same period. Half of local authorities with social care responsibilities received a government grant increase below inflation this year. In the next three years alone, there will be over 400,000 more older people - an increase of five per cent - many of whom will require social care. Without additional funding, local government may potentially face a situation, by as early as 2009, where it cannot afford to provide support to the 370,000 people with lower levels of need.

Councillor Sunderland said, "This report is a wake up call for the government who must now take the funding of social care much more seriously". Local Council Tax payers which include millions of older people cannot simply just pay these huge bills. The Government is restricting access to social care services without proper debate. They cannot continue to kick this into the long grass. This issue is of fundamental importance because it will affect the one in four people who will require some form of long-term care in their lifetime. It will also increase the financial and emotional burden on the many overworked, and often unpaid carers, who are helping the elderly"

The report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection ( CSCI )shows that as local councils supported fewer people, families and friends have to pick up the care in an informal way which leaves gaps and without access to people to help them find services.

Councillor Sunderland said, "This is the situation in Bradford. The Conservative Executive is proposing to remove services from people with moderate needs and pass them onto a voluntary and third sector which is not joined up and able to properly help. Without proper preventative care the report shows that more and more people just have to make do until their situation becomes critical. I accept that in many areas social care services are getting better but they are only getting better for those people who are able to get care. That is why in Bradford the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight against proposals to change the social care criteria. People in Bradford must not be denied help with basic tasks such as help with washing and dressing this is a national disgrace."

Dame Denise Platt, CSCI chair, said: "Social Care services in England are gradually getting better, but only for those who manage to qualify for help. The options for people who do not meet the criteria set by their local council are limited." (2)

The CSCI's second annual report on the state of social care in England finds many councils are raising eligibility thresholds due to a rise in the number of older and disabled people and the costs of care.

The findings echo the watchdog's December 2005 report, which said the social care system relied on five million unpaid carers and called on councils to give them more support."

This year's report finds that, although services for adults and children are improving, some services are still not meeting national minimum standards and fail to offer choice and control to individuals.

It also says the marketplace for social care providers is "underdeveloped" and identifies continuing recruitment and retention problems in attracting highly qualified staff.