Chancellor remains silent on care sector funding

Spring statement offers hope for UK economy but no respite for care sector short of funding.

During his spring statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond spoke proudly about the UK economy’s continued resurgence, reduced debt, and an improved outlook. However, predictions of good news for the beleaguered care sector proved to be unfounded.

Hopes of a care sector cash injection were dashed during the Chancellor's spring statement

Not only was no additional funding offered to ease the pressure for publicly owned health and care organisations, the Chancellor failed to address the care sector at all.  With borrowing down to £45.2 billion this year - almost £5 billion less than expected - there was an expectation that Hammond would offer some of the economic shortfall to the care sector. 

There has been widespread criticism from the care sector for this inaction. “The Spring Statement shows the deficit is being reduced, so the Chancellor has room to deliver extra money for a long-term solution for social care,”  said Martin Green, chief executive of Care England.

Jan Shortt of the National Pensioners Convention joined the chorus of disapproval, He believes  the silence indicates that the government has “no real idea of what to do”

“In the meantime, 1.2m older people are no longer getting the help they need, over 40,000 homes are sold every year to pay for care and all the Government can offer is more consultation in the summer. The key is to be bold enough to do something about it, and today the Chancellor has let Britain’s older population down.”