Budget 2017: Philip Hammond’s £2billion social care promise ‘is NOT enough to plug gaping financial hole in NHS’
PHILIP Hammond has confirmed a £2billion boost social care services over the next three years.
Mr Hammond said today he would pour millions into social care to help stave off a crisis, as predicted by The Sun earlier this week.
In contrast, the NHS will receive just £425million over that time period, with £100million earmarked to fund the installation of GPs in A&E departments.
But, rather than stave off crisis, critics warned it would do nothing to improve the dire situation faced by the health service.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of The Patients Association, said: "Today's Budget has set the NHS and social care system on course for a continuing crisis in the coming years."
Today Mr Corbyn used the pre-Budget PMQs to press the PM on social care, and said that there was an "acute social care crisis that affects every council".
But Mrs May hit back saying: "If he could just be a little patient and wait half an hour for the Budget he'll find out what social care funding is available to all councils."
But later Mr Hammond confirmed: "Today I am committing additional grant funding of £2billion to social care in England over the next three years with £1billion available in 2017-18.
"This will allow local authorities to act now to commission new care packages."
Mr Hammond said the Tories were the true party of the NHS as he vowed:
- £325million for NHS trusts that have already got in place efficiency plans
- £100million for GPs on site at hospitals
- A green paper setting out options for dealing with social care costs in the long term
He went on: "We are the Government of the NHS with not just the commitment and the will but also with the economic plan that will secure the future of our most important public service."
Mr Hammond has found the cash to stave off collapse while a long-term solution to the funds shortfall is found.
It will take the strain off hospitals unable to discharge elderly and disabled patients because of a lack of community carers.
A senior source told the Sun: “Social care will be at the forefront of everything we do.
"This will not be just a sticking plaster solution but short-term help while we work out long-term reforms to fix this for good.”
But Mr Corbyn and leading doctors today accused the Government of not going far enough.
Dr Mark Porter, chair of the BMA - the voice of doctors and medical students - said the Chancellor's announcement does nothing to address a "gaping hole in NHS finances".
"The NHS and social care are at breaking point and have been failed by party politics for too long," he warned.
"We need politicians from all sides to come together to agree a long-term solution to the challenges facing health and social care."
Mr Corbyn added: "The Budget didn't provide the funding necessary now for the crisis in our NHS - which the BMA reckons needs an extra £10billion.
"It didn't provide the funding necessary to end the state of emergency in social care now, which needs £2billion a year just to plug the gaps according to the King's Fund.
"That is not met by £2billion over three years.
"The money is needed now. More than a million people desperate for social care still can't get it.
"Because this Government ducks really tough choices, like asking corporations to pay a little bit more tax."
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Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs said the Chancellor's announcement is a "good start".
But she warned, it's "only a short-term sticking plaster".
"When social care is not properly resourced, it has a serious impact on patients and creates a knock-on effect on the care GPs can provide," she said.
"We must start seeing good healthcare as a tripod, with robust general practice, hospital and social care services as three linked elements.
"All must be appropriately resourced, and work together seamlessly, so that we can deliver care that is in the best interests of patients."
The Labour leader tried and failed to pressure the Prime Minister during this week's PMQs on whether there was a secret "sweetheart deal" given to Surrey County Council which got them to call off a referendum on raising council tax by 15 per cent.
Mr Corbyn revealed leaked texts which appeared to show a deal had taken place - but ministers have denied this.
Mrs May said today: "If he's asking me if there was a special deal for Surrey not available to other councils, the answer is no."
And she hit out: "If he's looking to uncover a conspiracy, I suggest he just looks behind him."
Mrs May stormed: “We are securing the economy, Labour want to weaken it. We’re fighting for the best deal for Britain, Labour are fighting among themselves.”
Finishing with a flourish, she barked: “Labour are weak, divided and unfit to govern this great country.”
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