William Eichler 02 March 2018

Council chiefs call for social care funding to save NHS billions

The Government should provide local authorities with the funds to invest in prevention measures to help ease the burden emergency admissions place on the NHS, council chiefs say.

A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed emergency admissions have grown by 24% between 2007-08 and 2016-17 and cost the NHS £13.7bn in 2015-16.

Last year, according to the report, there were 5.8 million emergency admissions of which 24% were considered avoidable by NHS England.

The rise in emergency admissions of people aged 65 and over was 12% in the past four years.

The NAO warned the capacity in the community to prevent emergency admissions does not currently meet demand.

The Department of Health & Social Care spent £10bn on community health care as of October 2017 but, the report notes, there is no clear plan on how this could be better used to manage demand.

Responding to the NAO’s report, Cllr Linda Thomas, vice chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, said councils were working closely with the NHS to ‘avoid unnecessary admissions’.

However, she warned, this was difficult due to the ‘historic’ underfunding of social care.

‘The adult social care system is under significant pressure and community based services are being reduced, which is impacting on inpatient services,’ Cllr Thomas explained.

‘This reduced Government funding means councils have had to spend less on key prevention work – £64m less in the past year.’

‘The Government needs to give urgent funding to councils to invest in prevention measures, which will help to reduce costs to the public purse,’ she continued.

‘Social care needs to be put on an equal footing with the NHS and government needs to address immediate pressures as part of the £2.3bn funding gap facing social care by 2020.

‘A whole-system approach to health and social care — which recognises that community based support, including adult social care, helps to prevent hospital admission — is needed to ensure that people are adequately supported through their patient journey.’

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner