News

25.10.17

Social care spending sees £0.5bn real term rise for first time since 2010

Social care spending by local authorities has risen in real terms for the first time since 2010, according to an NHS Digital report.

England’s annual spending has increased by £556m in the last year despite a minimal change in activity says today’s Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report.

Overall expenditure in the sector was £17.5bn and long-term support for patients saw the biggest rise in costs.

However, there was only a very slight increase in requests for support to authorities, meaning that spending has likely risen due to increasing costs in the provision of care.

In response to the report, NHS Digital says some councils cite the introduction of the Living Wage and the growing complexity of social care needs as causes of the overall increase.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the figures show that the government needs to do more to address underfunding issues. 

"The reality is that thousands of vulnerable people are not receiving the support they need and the health service is every day being placed under intolerable pressure as a result," Dickson commented. "The government has promised to put this right and it is now time for them to get on with that."

Earlier this month, the LGA voiced fears of a “perfect storm" of social care problems which could result from underinvestment in the sector.

The comments were a response to the CQC’s suggestion that, despite overall improvements in care, social care is still not at an acceptable level.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board called on the government to bring forward consultation on the issue saying “pre-election momentum must be maintained.”

The chairman pointed to the upcoming Autumn Budget and suggested it be used to deal with the problem, quoting an annual funding gap of £2.3bn by 2020 despite a £2bn injection in the spring statement.

Seccombe said: “It is encouraging that the vast majority of adult social care services were rated good, and that services have improved on last year, which is a massive achievement given the unprecedented pressures across the system.

“Social care faces a perfect storm, and the CQC report is yet another timely warning from a key part of the sector, of the need to resolve the short and long-term future of care as an urgent priority.”

Top image: CQC

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become a PSE columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

public sector executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >
How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

19/06/2019How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

Tom Chance, director at the National Community Land Trust Network, argues t... more >

editor's comment

25/10/2017Take a moment to celebrate

Devolution, restructuring and widespread service reform: from a journalist’s perspective, it’s never been a more exciting time to report on the public sector. That’s why I could not be more thrilled to be taking over the reins at PSE at this key juncture. There could not be a feature that more perfectly encapsulates this feeling of imminent change than the article James Palmer, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has penned for us on p28. In it, he highlights... read more >

last word

Prevention: Investing for the future

Prevention: Investing for the future

Rob Whiteman, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance (CIPFA), discusses the benefits of long-term preventative investment. Rising demand, reducing resource – this has been the r more > more last word articles >

interviews

Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

17/12/2018Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

It’s no secret that the public sector and its service providers need ... more >

the raven's daily blog

Cleaner, greener, safer media: Increased ROI, decreased carbon

23/06/2020Cleaner, greener, safer media: Increased ROI, decreased carbon

Evolution is crucial in any business and Public Sector Executive is no different. Long before Covid-19 even became a thought in the back of our minds, the team at PS... more >
read more blog posts from 'the raven' >

public sector events

events calendar

back

August 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 1 2 3 4 5 6

featured articles

View all News