Adult social care has reached breaking point after policymakers failed to act on alarms raised back in 2010, researchers have warned today.
A new report from policy experts at the University of Birmingham argues that the Government was warned ten years ago that the system was 'broken' and that the costs of adult social care could double within two decades if no action was taken.
It argues that this ‘lost decade’ has led to greater unmet need, lower quality care, and greater pressure on staff and families.
Jon Glasby, lead author of the report and professor of health and social care at the University of Birmingham, said: 'Our research has explored the future reform and costs of adult social care, and the high cost of inaction. In 2010, we were adamant that doing nothing was not an option.
'Our 2020 update shows that, without swift Government intervention, the adult social care system could quickly become unsustainable. Even though this research was carried out before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, urgent action is likely to be even more pressing in the current context.'
