Midland Mencaps Response to The Governments November Budget
Here’s our response to Wednesdays autumn budget statement.
Chief Executive of Midland Mencap, Dave Rogers said:
“Disappointingly this budget does nothing to address the growing crisis across social care. With a near £3 billion funding gap predicted by 2020 over a million vulnerable citizens already do not have an appropriate level of care or support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. The number of people needing care and support will only grow over the coming years and services and providers meeting that level of need are at breaking point. This will inevitably lead to higher costs for both local authorities and the NHS having to manage demand due to inadequate community based social care provision.
Government funding is urgently needed now ahead of any planned reforms, reforms which must reflect on the whole community social care system. Alarmingly there was no mention of funding to resolve the crisis regarding funding for sleep-in shifts, which will undoubtedly see providers go out of business if the government does not provide funds. In essence we believe that for citizens with a learning disability and their families this budget sends out the message that they are a community increasingly forgotten by central government.
With demand on services growing at Midland Mencap we are increasingly seeing citizens living in deep poverty, socially isolated and cruelly exposed to the wider community consequences of austerity. It is now critical that Government listen to the sectors voice and focus on fully resourcing the resolving of issues that detrimentally impact on the lives, welfare and well-being of disabled people.”