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| Councils cut back on free adult social care | Councils cut back on free adult social care |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The number of councils in England cutting back on free adult social care has increased by 13% this year, a survey has suggested. | The number of councils in England cutting back on free adult social care has increased by 13% this year, a survey has suggested. |
| The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services study found just 26 out of 148 councils would fund people in "moderate" or "low" need, down from 41. | The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services study found just 26 out of 148 councils would fund people in "moderate" or "low" need, down from 41. |
| The moves follow a sharp reduction in central funding for local authorities. | The moves follow a sharp reduction in central funding for local authorities. |
| However, the government said it had recently allocated an extra £2bn a year by 2014-15 for social care services. | However, the government said it had recently allocated an extra £2bn a year by 2014-15 for social care services. |
| Taking bath | Taking bath |
| The survey revealed that 19 local authorities had raised the eligibility bar for free adult social care. | The survey revealed that 19 local authorities had raised the eligibility bar for free adult social care. |
| Only 22 councils in England out of the 148 which responded will now fund those assessed as having moderate needs, down from 36 last year. | Only 22 councils in England out of the 148 which responded will now fund those assessed as having moderate needs, down from 36 last year. |
| This category includes people who are so ill or disabled that they have trouble preparing a meal for themselves or taking a bath. | This category includes people who are so ill or disabled that they have trouble preparing a meal for themselves or taking a bath. |
| Six councils have now opted to limit help to people in "critical' need, which includes those suffering from life threatening conditions. | Six councils have now opted to limit help to people in "critical' need, which includes those suffering from life threatening conditions. |
| Some authorities say the need to save money has left them with no option but to cut one of their biggest areas of spending. | Some authorities say the need to save money has left them with no option but to cut one of their biggest areas of spending. |
| Andrew Harrop, of the charity Age UK, said people could die as a result of the cuts and many more may land up in hospital unnecessarily. | Andrew Harrop, of the charity Age UK, said people could die as a result of the cuts and many more may land up in hospital unnecessarily. |
| The government has set up an independent commission on social care, which is due to report in July, and will put forward plans in a White Paper by the end of the year. | The government has set up an independent commission on social care, which is due to report in July, and will put forward plans in a White Paper by the end of the year. |
| 'Most vulnerable' | 'Most vulnerable' |
| Andrew Dilnott, chairman of the commission, said there was no doubt that social care was being squeezed and there was "a growing amount of unmet need". | Andrew Dilnott, chairman of the commission, said there was no doubt that social care was being squeezed and there was "a growing amount of unmet need". |
| He said the current system seemed to "invite variability" and "there was merit in trying to find an assessment system... that seems to give people more of a sense that there was fairness and equality across the UK". | He said the current system seemed to "invite variability" and "there was merit in trying to find an assessment system... that seems to give people more of a sense that there was fairness and equality across the UK". |
| But he said regardless of the cuts, the system needed to be reformed. | But he said regardless of the cuts, the system needed to be reformed. |
| "The balance between individual responsibility and state responsibility that we have at the moment doesn't seem to be the right one, it's widely seen to be unfair. | "The balance between individual responsibility and state responsibility that we have at the moment doesn't seem to be the right one, it's widely seen to be unfair. |
| "What we found is that many people think it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to make some contribution. | "What we found is that many people think it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to make some contribution. |
| "They just don't want the system that they face at the moment where if they turn out to be one of the least fortunate who ends up needing a very great deal of care, that they lose everything," he said. | "They just don't want the system that they face at the moment where if they turn out to be one of the least fortunate who ends up needing a very great deal of care, that they lose everything," he said. |
| Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: "The government is putting an extra £2bn into supporting social care by 2014 and there is an unprecedented transfer of cash support from the NHS to social care. | |
| "But we know this is just a sticking plaster solution for a funding system that is broken and beyond quick fixes. | |
| "That is why the government acted quickly to set up the Dilnot Commission on funding. It is why we are determined to put in place a lasting and fair settlement to the funding question." |