11.07.12
NHS Confederation calls for action on social care funding
A sustainable social care funding settlement is needed urgently, according to a survey of NHS leaders.
The NHS Confederation has welcomed the proposals expected in the social care white paper that focus on integration, prevention and personalisation, but it urges greater speed on the question of funding.
The survey found that 66% of NHS chief executives and chairs said funding shortfalls in local authority spending had impacted on their services. This came in the form of more delayed discharges, greater demand for community services and mental health services, more acute admissions to hospitals, more A&E admissions and more emergency readmissions.
The leaders stated that integration of care and an expansion of community-based care were necessary to respond to the financial pressure and improve services.
Mike Farrar, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “We can no longer afford the political debates and academic discussions about social care funding. This is a real issue that is having a detrimental impact on people’s lives, now, today. This is the time for action.
“Without reform, our health and social care systems are heading for collapse. For the sake of the NHS, local authorities, patients and carers, we all need a resolution now. The public need open and honest information about what costs in the future will be covered by the state and what costs will be covered by individuals.”
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