Clive Jones, Wokingham’s member of parliament, has called on the government to address the social care crisis.
He has called for the government to commit to completing their review into social care by the end of the year.
Last week was the first time that social care providers converged on Westminster asking the government to take action quickly. For years, he said that governments have promised reform of social care, and it hasn’t happened.
Wokingham Borough Council is struggling with the spiralling adult social care costs. The council’s latest Medium Term Financial Plan shows that adult social care accounts for 40% of the council’s budget for 2024/25.
In 2015/16, the council spent £45.3 million on adult social care, 21.8% of all expenditure. However, in 2023/24, this expenditure increased by 50.4% to £68.9 million – 23.3% of the council’s total expenditure.
Jones met with social care providers in Berkshire who spoke about their serious concerns about the impacts of Labour’s job tax, and of increasing employer’s National Insurance contributions.
They also talked about the need for a much more joined up approach to social care where hospitals, GPs, Councils and care providers all worked more closely together.
After meeting with social care providers, he said: “The previous Tory government neglected the social care sector and lead us to this crisis, but the Labour Government has failed to address the issue and bring about the necessary reforms.
“It is not good enough for ministers to say that social care reform will come in three years at the absolute earliest. Their review needs to be wrapped up within the year.
“Social care providers in Wokingham and across Berkshire are concerned about the weight of spiralling costs, and they need action now.
“The Lib Dems are also pushing for the Government to scrap its national insurance rise for care providers, which could force many to cut back services or even close.”
