The National Care Forum (NCF) has called for urgent government support for social care ahead of a key deadline for sector funding.
On 30 September, the final remaining dedicated funding for social care to deal with Covid-19 will come to an end.
NCF chief executive Vic Rayner said that, despite the deadline, social care’s requirements relating to Covid testing, staff sick pay, restricting staff movement, infection prevention control, visiting and vaccination remain unchanged.
“On top of this, the sands that hold up the delivery of social care are shifting at speed. The workforce crisis is escalating at a rate of knots. Yet all the talk of reform does nothing to address these immediate concerns,” she added.
Rayner continued: “I don’t believe for one moment that the general public care more about whether they have a turkey on their table at Christmas than ensuring someone needing care and support gets consistent high quality care to enable them to live an independent life as part of their community.
“The political will to find a solution for the poultry industry, for the HGV sector, for the fuel pumps must extend to solutions for people who need care and support. The government must take action and the public must hold them to account.”
