Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has emphasized the urgent need to modernize adult social care to prevent financial crises in London councils. With many boroughs on the verge of bankruptcy due to escalating care costs, Kinnock advocates for a fundamental reevaluation of funding methods, moving focus from political blame to practical solutions. He highlights how a shift towards community-based care and digital resources is essential. London Councils report a collective shortfall of £500 million, exacerbated by rising demands for social care and homelessness support, underscoring the urgent need for an effective funding strategy.
In the past, every attempt to reform funding for adult social care has been torpedoed because it's been weaponized by political parties, and the Labour Party is just as guilty as the Conservative Party and others at doing that.
If we want a health and care system that works, adult social care has to be made to work. It's got to be properly resourced, and it's got to be really modernised with big shifts from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention and from analogue to digital.
London Councils has said, collectively, the city's town halls will face a 500 million shortfall this year driven mainly by the skyrocketing cost of providing temporary housing for homeless families and soaring social care prices.
Seven councils in the capital this year applied for emergency Government money to balance the books, with social care costs often making it hard for boroughs to balance the books.
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