Responding to Better Care Fund Planning Requirements announced
last night by Health Secretary , that set out how social care
and NHS funding to support integration is to be spent, including
the £2 billion announced in the Spring Budget, Margaret Willcox,
President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social
Services (ADASS), said:
“As we highlighted in our budget survey last week, social care is
under pressure from increasing need in local populations,
increasing costs and a long term reduction in funding.
“We welcomed the short-term £2 billion funding announced by the
Chancellor this spring for local councils’ adult social care
services, along with the agreed three national conditions - which
required stabilisation of the social care market to alleviate
pressures on adult care - and continue to support timely
transfers from hospital.
“Across the country ADASS’ members have consistently prioritised
discharge from hospital. In many areas Directors have already
obtained a level of agreement as to how best utilise this much
needed funding, responding quickly to encouragement to start to
use these funds to make a difference in local areas.
“ADASS is very disappointed by the last minute unilateral changes
to guidance that have taken place in the last few days. The
consequence is to undermine the collective effort required.”
