Councils could struggle to fund prevention services in the future due to funding gaps in adult social care budgets, a new report is warning.
The Adult Social Care In London report reveals that London boroughs are facing a shortfall of £2.4bn in their adult social care budgets due to inflation, rising demand and new burdens.
London Councils, who published the report, say this gap will put prevention services at risk and could lead to an even bigger increase in future demand. It highlights the fact boroughs are already planning to reduce investment in prevention programmes for 2015/16 by six percent.
Cllr Ray Puddifoot, London Councils’ executive member for adult social care, said:
‘Boroughs are taking responsibility for arranging care for people who need support and are working to prevent health issues from becoming more serious. But funding constraints could see councils focusing more on essential statutory duties and meeting urgent needs at the expense of other important services, storing up trouble for the future.
‘With additional government support, we can reduce the projected £2.4bn funding gap for statutory adult social care in London between now and 2020 and align health and social care more closely to improve the efficiency and quality of services.’
Visit The MJ to find out why councils may be allowed to impose a 2% ‘social care precept’ in this week’s Spending Review.