Cutting spending will create looming bills
Published 12 May 2011
Research by the BBC has today unveiled a large variance in the amount councils are spending and planning to spend on Adult Social Care.
The survey 'The Council Spending: Making it Clear' looked at planned expenditure of 76% of councils in England. Adult social care spending will fall by an estimated 4.7% to £3.4bn in the North in 2011/12 and rise by 2.7% to £3.33bn in the South. Some councils said the figures were 'skewed' by grant allocation changes.
Alzheimer's Society comment:
'These findings highlight an unacceptable postcode lottery of care. While some councils are recognising the dangers of not investing in adult social care, others are not. The consequences will be a huge bill when hundreds of thousands need crisis care later.
'It is completely understandable that councils are feeling the pressure to make savings but, with the right investment and planning, smarter spending in Adult Social Care could save millions. A more permanent solution to fix the broken funding system is needed. As the population ages the number of people with dementia will double and costs triple. We cannot afford to ignore this issue.'
Andrew Chidgey
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Alzheimer's Society
