Chair of Lincolnshire Care Association backs report calling for urgent Government support

The Chair of Lincolnshire Care association is backing a new report from the sector's leaders across the country saying they can't wait three years for reform.

The survey of organisations concluded providers are feeling cost pressures now

They feel more urgent action's needed.

The Government has commissioned a review into social care services but that won't finish their work for three years.

Melanie Weatherley, Chair of Lincolnshire care association has backed the conclusion of a report that says the sector can't wait.

The Government needs to invest in social care

She told us: "We're all dependent on each other - there are enough care home beds in Lincolnshire - there is enough capacity in Lincolnshire."

"We need to all understand who can do what and the Government needs to invest in social care."

It comes as the Chief Nursing officers for both adult social care and NHS England have paid social care services Lincolnshire a visit in order to see first hand what the problems with the service are, in order to better improve them.

The visit was arranged by Melanie.

She wrote to both the Secretary of State, and the Minister for Care; detailing how health and social care services in Lincolnshire are struggling.

Melanie said the visit was to understand "How we can work together to make improvements at a Lincolnshire level."

We can't wait three years, before anything changes

She returned to the Government's plans:

"We can't wait three years, before anything changes."

"Care is really struggling at the moment, and with care struggling, we cant be there to support the NHS"

Last week Sir Andrew Dilnot, who produced recommendations for reform more than a decade ago, said it is "completely unnecessary" to wait three years and that it is "perfectly feasible" for the Government to set out by the end of 2025 what it is going to do.

Steve Veevers, chief executive of the House Fam Trust, said: "The sector can ill afford a lengthy process to identify the solutions."

"It provides a detailed, up-to-date picture of the sector's pressures and highlights urgent priorities such as workforce shortages, funding instability, and improved support for care workers."

In response to the report's concerns the Government said:

"We are making available up to £3.7 billion extra for social care authorities over the next financial year including an £880 million increase in the social care grant."

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