The coronavirus crisis proves the artificiality of the funding divide between the NHS and social care, according to a recent research note from the think tank Policy Exchange.
‘Ending the divide’ argues that the Government’s recent promises on social care – cross-party talks and a manifesto pledge that “nobody needing care should be forced to sell their home to pay for it” – must now be strengthened.
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Social care as a whole has been desperately underfunded for decades and we have been consistently calling for a cross-party consensus on the future of care and how we pay for it, long before the coronavirus crisis.
“This report echoes our own calls about how social care should be on an equal footing with the NHS.
“People of all ages should be able to live the lives they want to lead and we are pleased the Government previously announced it was to begin cross-party talks, as part of finding a long-term, sustainable solution for adult social care.
“What we also need more immediately is urgent access for all social care staff to reliable and ongoing supplies of quality personal protective equipment, increased rapid and comprehensive testing and greater support with staffing and other equipment, if we are to defeat this disease.”