Only good financing can save social care | Letters

The Nuffield Trust’s warning that parts of the adult social care market in England could collapse is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the sector (large parts of the adult social care market in England are collapse, warns the think tank, November 22).

Recent increases to national insurance and the minimum wage, which the think tank says could push up costs for private and not-for-profit social care providers by £2.8 billion, could be the tipping point for organizations already under pressure after a decade of austerity and persistent inflationary pressures.

An unintended consequence of the change is an increase in the number of unregulated induction care agencies. Regulated providers will arguably be more affected than unregulated providers due to higher overhead costs caused by specific quality and safety standards, which require continued or increased investment in staff training, oversight and compliance.

This in turn could have worrying implications for the quality of care people receive and can afford, at a time when many are already struggling to access the support they need.

The government must prioritize adequate long-term funding for care or risk a damaging impact on an already vulnerable NHS, which relies on healthcare providers for support at hospital discharge.

Increased funding will also ensure providers maintain the ability to meet growing demand for care while maintaining the standards people and communities deserve.
Laura Davis
Chief Operating Officer, The Good Care Group