Despite fears that social care would face deep cuts in today’s Comprehensive Spending Review plans (Oct 20), Chancellor George Osbourne has revealed that social care will receive a boost from an additional £2bn of funding.

There will be a boost of £1bn by 2014/15 and a further £1bn through funding via the NHS and a key aim is to encourage local authorities and the health service to work together to stop elderly people "fall through the crack between the two systems".

Mr Osbourne said: "Some in local government have concerns about the financing of social care.

"I can announce that grant funding for social care will be
increased by an additional £1 billion by the fourth year of the Spending
Review.

"And a further £1 billion for social care will be provided
through the NHS to support joint working with councils – so that elderly
people do not continue to fall through the crack between two systems.

"That’s a total of £2 billion additional funding for social care to protect the most vulnerable."

 For more information see:

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_sr2010_speech.htm

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