Social care charities blast Philip Hammond for 'failure' to boost sector in Budget
2 min read
Social care charities have rounded on Philip Hammond after he failed to commit further cash to the sector in yesterday's Budget – despite its prominence during the general election.
The issue proved a sticking point during the campaign when Theresa May was forced into a humiliating U-turn on plans to force people to pay for care through their own assets.
The subsequent backlash to the so-called “dementia tax” is widely viewed as a key factor in the Tories’ loss of their majority.
The Chancellor’s refusal to pledge more money to the struggling sector has sparked a backlash among campaigners, and accusations of ministers being "desperately short-sighted".
Age UK's charity director Caroline Abrahams said: "The Budget's failure to acknowledge the enormous problems facing social care is desperately short-sighted and can only result in the numbers of older people going without the care they need.
"Last week the Government announced it would publish a Green Paper on social care next summer but we fear for the state of social care by then."
Jeremy Hughes of the Alzheimer's Society said the Government's vow to spend a further £1.6bn on the NHS next year was "filling up a bucket with holes in it" if social care is neglected.
Elsewhere, the MS Society said one in three multiple sclerosis sufferers are “struggling” without the care they need and that the “system desperately needs money now.”
The British Red Cross said: "Social care is struggling to cope and this adversely affects the NHS."
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Tom Brake hit out at the Chancellor’s priorities – after a bumper sum of £3bn was granted for departments to help cope with the Brexit fall out, yet "nothing for social care."
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