NHS will ‘crack’ if Government fails to tackle social care crisis, BMA warns
Chairman Dr Mark Porter said health and social care services are 'desperately trying to prop up' one another
THE NHS will struggle to cope if the Government fails to tackle the present social care crisis, the British Medical Association warned.
Chairman Dr Mark Porter said health and social care services are “desperately trying to prop up” one another but “cracking under the weight”.
New BMA analysis reveals plans will need to deliver £26billion of cuts from health and social care by 2020-21.
The health department said it had announced almost £900million extra funding over the next two years for social care.
Health managers in 44 areas of England have been ordered to draw up strategies, setting out how they will reduce costs, change services and reduce care.
It follows a record £2.45billion deficit for the past financial year.
The sustainability and transformation plans – some of which have been published or leaked – could see some hospitals, A&E units or maternity units close and other services merged.
In his New Year message, Dr Porter said STPs had revealed the health service was “unsustainable” without “urgent further investment”.
He added: “STPs will only succeed if they are realistic, properly funded and have patient care as their priority.”
The BMA said in November that £22bn of cuts would need to be delivered by STPs, but this figure has risen following analysis of saving figures found in documents from all 44 areas.
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Dr Porter said the care crisis was having a “knock-on-effect” on the NHS, with a lack of social care for patients causing bed shortages.
“STPs are meant to bring health and social care together, and in a grim kind of way they do,” Dr Porter said.
“It is clear from many STPs that each is desperately trying to prop up the other, their crutches cracking under the weight.
“When social care is on its knees, patients suffer delayed transfers and the personal and financial cost is vast.”
Barbara Keeley, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Older People, Social Care and Carers, said the “crisis in social care is of deep concern” and warned that planned cuts to services are “worse than feared” in areas.