The WLGA is calling for more funding for health and social care, in the wake of a new report published recently focusing on spending in the field since the onset of austerity.

The report by Wales Public Services highlights that per capita spending on social care has fallen in real terms by 13% over the last five years in Wales.

Spending per head would have to increase by at least £134 million (24%) between 2015-16 and 2020-21 to return to the equivalent level of spending in 2009-10, which amounts to a 3.7% year-on-year increase.

Commenting on the report, WLGA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Cllr Huw David (Bridgend) said:

“We welcome the report from Wales Public Services 2025 which recognises the twin challenges of financial and demand pressures faced by health and social care in Wales. This complements the recent Health Foundation analysis setting out the scale of future funding increases required for the NHS and adult social care in Wales.”

“The relative protection in funding that has been provided to local authority social services compared with England is acknowledged in the report. This prioritisation of funding for social care has been welcomed by local government, however spending on social care for the over 65’s is not keeping pace with the growth in the population of older people.”

“The report points to the significant investment that is required in social care and yesterday’s budget announcement of extra funding for social care services in England provides an opportunity for us to use any consequential funding to provide a boost to social care funding in Wales. This will help councils to provide high quality social care to more people and help to ease pressure on the NHS.”

ENDS

For more information contact: Dilwyn Jones