Today the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that only half of this funding - £250million - will be available to support the social care workforce.
Responding, BGS President, Professor Adam Gordon, said:
Confirmation that promised funding for social care workforce reform is to be halved is disappointing but unfortunately not surprising. It is the latest in a long list of broken promises by this and previous Governments to reform the social care system to ensure that it is fair and sustainable. The social care sector is in crisis, and this is having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of older people who cannot access the support they need. This in turn drives up emergency admissions to hospital and results in more people experiencing delayed transfers home from hospital, further increasing the pressures on elective and emergency care. As the population ages, the situation will only worsen if no action is taken. This Government must fulfil the promise that Boris Johnson made on the steps of Downing Street when he took office. It must deliver reform and investment to ensure a sustainable and accessible system for all who need social care.”
