Extra care home places needed

A study published in the Lancet warns that an extra 71,000 care home places will be needed by 2025 in England as care needs increase.

Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This analysis reinforces the urgent need to reform adult social care and deliver a long-term sustainable solution.

“While it is great news that life expectancy is increasing, the Lancet study confirms our warnings that this will heap even more pressures on social care and the demand for services, which are already under huge strain.

“While the £2 billion announced in the Spring Budget for social care was a step in the right direction, it is only one-off funding and social care services still face an annual £2.3 billion funding gap by 2020.

“It is absolutely critical that the Government brings forward its consultation for social care announced in the Queen’s Speech, and that it works with local government leaders in delivering a long-term sustainable solution for social care.

“This must address the issue of long-term funding, but it must also create the conditions necessary to ensure the development of the right kind of care and support services, that can meet the demand of an increasing number of adults with care needs.”