COUNTY chiefs have welcomed the news an extra £1.5billion of funding will be available for local authorities to help tackle the rising demand for adult social care in this country.
Chancellor Sajid Javid made the announcement as part of his Spending Review on September 4 and county chiefs revealed they awaited details of how the cash boost would be dished out.
Coun Adrian Hardman, cabinet member for Adult Social Care said: “Adult Social Care is a big priority in Worcestershire, with around 40 per cent of our budget going to support vulnerable adults in the county.
“In Worcestershire we have felt the pressure to cope with the increase in demand for Adult Social Care and the pressure this has put on our budgets.
“We have hugely passionate and dedicated staff who work hard to make a difference in people’s lives. It is vital that we can continue offering support to those in the county that need it most, and this funding is a great acknowledgement of that.”
Last year, to celebrate 70 years of Adult Social Care the County Council presented the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, with a birthday card signed by councillors across all parties that stressed the need for further funding of Adult Social Care to ensure that those who need it receive good quality support.
Speaking after the debate, Worcester’s MP Robin Walker welcomed the investment announced by the Chancellor and neighbouring Bromsgrove MP.
“This Spending Review serves as an excellent indicator of the priorities of the new Government, with significant increases to One Nation policy areas such as our National Health Service, education, for primary, secondary and further education colleges, and a large injection of cash into social care provisions,” he said.
“These are the domestic issues, outside of the Brexit debate, that constituents raise with me and my team regularly and I am glad to see the Chancellor prioritise the policies that matter most to the people of Worcester.”
