The social care crisis

Outside the Conservative Government there is a wide public, political and expert consensus that the adult social care system is in acute crisis. It faces annually increasing demand, is serially underfunded by central government, strains local authority finances and family budgets to breaking point, and is supplied principally by private businesses. These businesses determine uncontrolled prices, and remain chronically short of trained and experienced staff (who are poorly paid and inadequately regulated).

The council budgets that pay for these services are under constant strain, are limited by central government, and are mostly not ring-fenced, so must compete with other local authority obligations.

Meanwhile, there are millions of adults caring voluntarily for dependent relatives or friends, and receiving no financial support of any kind.