South Cotswolds MP joins local campaigners in Parliament to call for action on social care

Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, Dr Roz Savage joined campaigners from the constituency in Westminster on 25^th February as they held a rally calling on the Government to address the crisis in social care.

This is the first time social care providers have ever felt the need to unite and protest in this way, reflecting the shocking scale of the crisis facing care. Roz Savage called for the Government to exempt care providers from their “self-defeating” National Insurance rise and to complete their social care review as a matter of urgency.

Roz’s attendance at the carers rally followed her visit to Elm Grove BUPA Care Home in Cirencester on 21^st February with newly-elected Chesterton councillor, Andrea Pellegram. Roz was pleased to meet with staff and residents at the home and see for herself how residents were being cared for, whilst hearing about the financial and operational challenges of running the home from the management.

The rally coincides with the release of new research by the Liberal Democrats, which the Party commissioned from the House of Commons Library. The analysis showed that since 2017/18, when the Government first introduced ring-fenced funding for social care to help councils with the spiralling costs, they have shelled out close to £50 billion in top-ups. 

The amount that the Government spends per year on these top-ups for councils has soared more than five-fold to almost £10 billion a year. Previous Liberal Democrat research also revealed that councils are having to pay a staggering £53,352 a year in nursing costs per pensioner, up more than £24,000 on 2015/16’s level of £29,276 a year - an 82% jump.

It means that social care can now account for up to 80% of councils’ budgets, many of whom have already had to make vast cuts to other services. 

Recent research by the Local Government Association also found that investing in earlier preventative support in social care would improve people’s lives and save £3.17 for every pound spent. The report found potential savings to the public purse could reach £11.1 billion if preventative health and social care is scaled up across the country.

The crisis in social care has devastating consequences across the whole health care system. Care England said last year that over 45% of hospital discharge delays were linked to social care with one in seven of all hospital beds currently being taken up by people who are medically fit to be discharged. 

Currently hospitals are experiencing bed occupancy levels of 96%, well above the safe level of 85%. This contributes to long delays in A&Es as people cannot be admitted into hospital when no beds are available. Previous analysis suggesting that long A&E waits were linked to 50,000 deaths last year.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to address the care providers’ concerns and commit to completing their review into social care within the year, not the three that it is currently scheduled for. This would help stabilise local government finances at a time they are in turmoil and get people the care they need much faster.

The Party has also said that the government should scrap its National Insurance rise for care providers, which could force many to cut back services or even close.

Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, Roz Savage said:

“I have heard countless stories from people in our area of the terrible difficulties people are going through to find care for themselves and their loved ones. The anxiety this causes families cannot be overstated.

“The Conservative Party’s shameful neglect has pushed the sector to the brink but the Labour Government’s response to this crisis has been shocking. They have put even more pressure on care providers through their self-defeating national insurance rise and have kicked the can down the road on reforms.

“We need this to be a wake-up call for Ministers. As we have seen today, the sector, people in need of care and council budgets simply cannot wait any longer. 

“The government needs to scrap its misguided jobs tax for care providers and complete their social care review within the year. Only then will we see the care in South Cotswolds available when people need it.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The research by the House of Commons Library can be found here. Extra funding has been provided specifically for adult social care (or adult social care and children’s social care) since 2017/18. This funding has been additional to the general un-ringfenced revenue funding provided to local authorities, some of which is spent on social care.
• Care England’s comments on the number of bed occupancy delays due to social care can be found here.
• Previous Liberal Democrat research on social care costs for councils can be found here.
• Reporting on social care costs as a proportion of council budgets and the effect on services can be found here.
• Bed occupancy rates in England can be found here.
• Research by the LGA can be found here.
• Photos attached – of Roz Savage at Social Care rally, and with staff from Elm Grove Care Home, Cirencester.