Social care: funding and workforce inquiry reopens
20 May 2020
The Health and Social Care Committee reopens inquiry on identifying social care funding gap.
The reopened Social care: funding and workforce inquiry seeks to establish how much extra money would need to be spent by government in each of the next five years to counteract the impact of a shortage of care on the NHS. Shortages in the social care workforce and what solutions need to be found to address changes in the years ahead will also be considered.
The inquiry was paused in March to allow the committee to focus its efforts on the crisis posed by the outbreak of the coronavirus. In addition to the previously announced Terms of Reference, the inquiry will also consider what further reforms are needed to the long-term social care funding system.
Chair's comments
Committee Chair Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP said:
"Social care is in urgent need of reform, not only to deliver the necessary funding, but to support our crucial social care workforce.
Never has this been more apparent than during the pandemic, as social care staff work above and beyond to protect our most vulnerable people in a hugely challenging situation, with difficulties compounded by historical problems with funding and workforce – we heard this loud and clear at our most recent evidence session.
The Committee is therefore today relaunching its inquiry into social care funding and reform, with slightly expanded terms of reference, and plans to begin taking oral evidence in June."
Terms of reference
What impact is the current social care funding situation having on the NHS and on people who need social care?
- What level of funding is required in each of the next five years to address this?
- What is the extent of current workforce shortages in social care, how will they change over the next five years, and how do they need to be addressed?
- NEW What further reforms are needed to the social care funding system in the long term?
Submitting evidence
The Committee welcomes short evidence submissions addressing the issues raised in the Terms of Reference. The deadline has been extended to Friday 5 June however given the constantly evolving situation, evidence will be accepted throughout the course of the inquiry. Details on how to submit evidence can be found here.
Further information
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