End the Punch & Judy -- Care for the vulnerable says Cllr Richard Church

4.43.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 5th Apr 2006

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Northamptonshire County Council rejected the 'Punch ad Judy' politics practiced by Labour and Tories over the recent cuts in Council services to elderly and vulnerable people. Instead he set out the clear Liberal Democrat position and pointed out that there is a growing crisis in care services in Britain today.

He stated "Council care for elderly and disabled people and young people who need care are Cinderella services" and went on "What has happened this year is not a one-off - there are a combination of factors coming together leading to a national crisis in care services of which our county's problems are just one example.

"An annual survey of social services departments by the Association of Directors of Social Services and the Local Government Association has revealed that nationally a £1.768 billion gap exists between what local authorities have to spend what it costs them to deliver care services.

"The shortfall has been caused by:

=> An ageing population and a rising number of people who need care. By 2007 it is forecast that for the first time there will be more people over 65 than under 16.

=> The financial crisis in the NHS, which is leading to more people receiving social care rather than care in a hospital.

=> The soaring cost of contracts with the independent and voluntary sector. Average increases are 4.2 per cent for nursing and residential care, and four per cent for home care.

=> Medical advances that mean young adults with severe physical and learning disabilities thankfully are living longer".

Cllr Church pointed out "Health and social care are two sides of the same coin. Under-invest in one and you over-stretch the other. The number of people in need of care is increasing by the day and funding is not being increased to match".

Unfortunately he Tory controlled Northamptonshire County Council had room to manoeuvre and could have made a difference - but they failed. They could have raised an additional £4 million to protect services but refused to do so. This will have a knock on effect in the future - every year we will now be £4 million short because of Tory dogma.

Failing to do so in one year will have a knock-on effect year on year which cannot be recouped as the funding gap grows wider.

Cllr Church concluded "The Government has broken its promise to introduce free personal care for the elderly This is now in place in Scotland thanks to the Liberal Democrats, which provides a guarantee of basic personal care.

"Mental health and learning disability needs have had a low priority from this Labour government and this Tory council.

"This urgently needs to change. It's time mental health had the same high profile that we give to other health issues, such as cancer and heart disease and it is time the government recognises the growing cost pressures in its grant to councils.

"Now this year's budget round is over, let's have a real debate the future of care services in Northamptonshire and in Britain, and how we are going to get the quality of care vulnerable people have a right to expect."