Matt Hancock announces £240m to ease winter pressures - Alzheimer's Society comments
Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Partnerships
| Alzheimer’s Society
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock will use his speech at the Conservative Party conference to announce an extra £240 million for the social care system to ease pressure on the NHS this winter. The funding will be allocated to councils to spend on measures including housing adaptations and care packages.
While it’s important that the Government has recognised that social care underfunding lies at the heart of our hospitals' winter pressures, the amount committed is a let down - less than 10 per cent of what’s needed to fix the social care crisis. The social care system is ‘not just for Christmas’ and people with dementia, as its biggest recipients, are experiencing the emotional and economic cost all year round.
This money may stop some people with dementia spending Christmas stuck on a ward, but the limited and poor quality care available at home will mean they’re back in hospital before Easter.
To actually turn the tide for people with dementia we need to see £2.5bn ringfenced in the upcoming budget - this will plug the current funding gap and give people with dementia the chance to access the good quality social care they have a right to.
