In response to the recent adult social care white paper, CIPFA's Health and Social Care Policy Manager, Dr Eleanor Roy, has said:
"This long-awaited white paper sets the ambition for increased choice and control over high quality, accessible personalised services. CIPFA welcomes the emphasis on early intervention and prevention and hopes that future investment will support this. Although this vision is for the next 10 years, it is not clear how we are going to achieve it.
"The white paper sets out how the £5.4bn from the health and social care levy will be spent over three years. This includes £3.6bn to cover the costs of charging reform and the 'fair price for care' – without further details of what this means. The remaining £1.7bn is earmarked for housing, digital and technology, workforce development and several 'pump-priming' pots for further policy development. What is clear is that greater investment will be needed to achieve the vision.
"The paper plans a journey but does nothing to consider the starting point. Existing demand, cost and workforce pressures are already knocking the sector off course. Raising funds through the 1% precept or efficiencies will simply not be enough.
"We therefore urge the government to provide funding for the sector's here and now pressures. Immediate funding will ensure that the sector sustains the essential services on which this vision of the future can be built."
Notes to editor
For further information please contact the CIPFA press office on +44 20 7543 5749 or email ursula.dale@cipfa.org.
Read the full adult social care white paper.
About CIPFA
CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, is the professional body for people in public finance. CIPFA shows the way in public finance globally, standing up for sound public financial management and good governance around the world as the leading commentator on managing and accounting for public money.