Councillors hit out at shocking social care cuts

Department of Health and Social Care last week confirmed £250m of the promised investment in adult social care workforce will be cut.

Councillors are accusing the Government of kicking the can down the road and letting down those most in need.

In order to ensure that the city’s most vulnerable residents receive the care and support they need in their communities, Lib Dem councillors in York increased spending by £5 million in adult and children social care as part of 2023/24 Council budget.

Following the shocking announcement, Councillor Carol Runciman has written to the Social Care Minster Helen Whatley urging the funding to be reinstated and urgently released.

Councillor Carol Runciman commented:

“It is now 4 years since the Conservative Government said they have a plan to fix social care. Ministers seem to have the right words but no funding or plans for real action. This latest cut once again kicks the can down the road at a time when adult social care is in crisis, with staff vacancies at an all time high and half a million people waiting for care and support.

“Even the funds that have been ‘announced’ are being held back from the reform programmes announced last year, with only £700 million of the previously announced sum of £1.7 billion allocated.

“This is an outrageous watering down of promises, which even as they stood would only have taken us on the first steps towards a more sustainable and refocused future for social care. People who draw on care and support and work in the sector will understandably feel let down and concerned by this cut.

“We cannot afford to only have nice words; we urgently need funds to invest in prevention and recovery and address low pay and unmet need. This cut must be reversed and the £600 million that is yet to be allocated must be given to councils, without additional conditions, to help address immediate care needs in communities.”