County protests over free home care proposals
Friday, 12th February 2010.
Suffolk County Council has told the Government it has serious concerns about the latest proposals for free adult home care.
In a joint letter with other councils, Suffolk says while extra funding is always welcome, it cannot find the extra cash it would be expected to put in alongside the proposed Government funding.
It also says the issue should be looked at as part of a review of long-term funding for all adult care.
The letter says: "The critical issue facing thousands of families in this country now and in the future is how do they afford to pay for long-term residential and nursing care without having to sell their homes to do so.
"The big issue is not about paying for home care. This proposal, which is both ill and hastily conceived, represents a diversion from the fundamental problems."
The council's portfolio holder for adult care, Colin Noble, said: "It is hard to see how already cash-strapped councils facing extreme budget reductions and increasing demands from a growing older population and the higher incidence of dementia, be expected to fund a further £250m of efficiency savings to go alongside the £420m of central government funding.
"The financial implications for Suffolk County Council mean that, with its full year Government grant allocation of £6.516m, it is required to identify and realise cashable efficiency savings of £3.875m, to make available £10.391m for free home care.
"Already faced with a budget deficit of £6.8m in 2011/12, to identify a further £3.875m will inevitably and unavoidably mean service reductions elsewhere in adult care. This just does not make sense."
In a joint letter with other councils, Suffolk says while extra funding is always welcome, it cannot find the extra cash it would be expected to put in alongside the proposed Government funding.
It also says the issue should be looked at as part of a review of long-term funding for all adult care.
The letter says: "The critical issue facing thousands of families in this country now and in the future is how do they afford to pay for long-term residential and nursing care without having to sell their homes to do so.
"The big issue is not about paying for home care. This proposal, which is both ill and hastily conceived, represents a diversion from the fundamental problems."
The council's portfolio holder for adult care, Colin Noble, said: "It is hard to see how already cash-strapped councils facing extreme budget reductions and increasing demands from a growing older population and the higher incidence of dementia, be expected to fund a further £250m of efficiency savings to go alongside the £420m of central government funding.
"The financial implications for Suffolk County Council mean that, with its full year Government grant allocation of £6.516m, it is required to identify and realise cashable efficiency savings of £3.875m, to make available £10.391m for free home care.
"Already faced with a budget deficit of £6.8m in 2011/12, to identify a further £3.875m will inevitably and unavoidably mean service reductions elsewhere in adult care. This just does not make sense."
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)