We were left facing a bit of a conundrum after yesterday’s spending review. In the case of social care, the chancellor seemed to be giving with one hand but taking away with the other. An extra £2bn appears to have been earmarked for the care and support of elderly and disabled people, but the money is not ring-fenced and councils are under no obligation to use it for this purpose. The reality is that while any extra funding is welcome, most is likely to be used to plug the holes left by huge cuts in other council funding.
The social care system is already at breaking point. In most areas help is already restricted to those with the most severe needs, leaving many others alone and without very basic support. It has never been more important for communities to mobilise and put pressure on their local councils to use the money in the way it was intended, and protect the most vulnerable people in our society.
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