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The Nuffield Trust’s warning that parts of England’s aged care market could collapse is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the sector (Large parts of the social care market for the elderly in England are facing collapse, the think tank warned on 22 November).
Recent increases in National Insurance and the minimum wage, which the think tank says could raise costs by £2.8 billion for private and not-for-profit social care providers, could be the tipping point for organizations already under pressure after a decade of cuts and continued inflationary pressures.
An unintended consequence of the change has been an increase in the prevalence of unregulated referral care agencies. Regulated suppliers are likely to be more affected than unregulated suppliers as a result of increased overhead costs caused by specific quality and safety standards that require continued or increased investment in staff training, oversight and compliance.
In turn, this could have worrying implications for the quality of care people receive and can afford at a time when many are already struggling to access the support they need.
The government must prioritize adequate long-term funding for care or risk a detrimental impact on the already fragile NHSwhich relies on care providers for support upon discharge from hospital.
Increased funding will also ensure that providers maintain their ability to meet increasing demand for care, while maintaining the standards that people and communities deserve.
Laura Davis
Chief Operating Officer, The Good Care Group
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