Over-stretched councils are struggling to meet the increasingly complex social care needs of people being discharged from hospital, a new survey has revealed.

The latest annual survey from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) found that almost three-quarters (72%) of councils in England overspent on their adult social care budgets in 2023/24.

The total national overspend on adult social care currently stands at £586m, according to ADASS.

The survey findings, which were drawn from 95% of councils with adult social care responsibilities, revealed that the ongoing push to discharge people from hospital more rapidly was a major driver behind local social care pressures.

The average size of care packages for people being discharged from hospital has increased in 76% of council areas over the past 12 months, which means that more people require support after leaving hospital.

Eight in 10 directors of adult social services also reported that frontline adult social care staff are undertaking tasks previously delivered by NHS staff on an unfunded basis, an increase from 70% in 2023.

President of ADASS, Melanie Williams, said: ‘This report shows an unsustainable and worrying picture for the four out of five of us needing adult social care in the future and sends a clear message that we can’t keep doing more of the same.’

Commenting on the survey, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: ‘A lack of capacity in care sees many elderly people admitted to hospital only because there's nowhere else for them to go. Others are discharged too soon as their beds are needed for sicker patients.

‘This doom loop won't stop unless both health and care get the resources and the staff they need. The new government's plans to introduce a fair pay agreement in care is the first sign that things are at last set to change.’

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