Responding to a government announcement that the green paper on care and support for older people has been delayed until the autumn, Cllr Richard Kemp, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“It is hugely frustrating and disappointing that this green paper has been delayed.

“These reforms were promised to offer funding solutions to the long-term sustainability of adult social care, and by extension to the health and social care system but this delay will have a knock-on effect on the subsequent introduction of legislation.

“This means, with rising demand and people living longer, care providers will continue to close and hand back contracts to councils without a funding solution for longer, putting high quality and effective care and support services in real jeopardy.

“It is nonsensical to start and conclude work on a plan for the NHS before setting out the options on social care funding, as the two services are inextricably linked.

“For this delay to make sense, there needs to be proper engagement over the summer with the social care sector to enable fully formed proposals complete with sector backing to be set out alongside the NHS plans.

“Local political, clinical and community leaders need to lead local plans to reform the NHS and social care and provide joined up person-centred care. The proposals also need to build on health and wellbeing boards, many of which are now joining up across bigger footprints to act more strategically.

“Most urgently, to reduce pressures on the NHS and help it thrive, and solve the adult social care crisis, the Government needs to address immediate sector pressures and the funding gap facing adult social care which is set to exceed £2 billion by 2020, as well as reductions in councils’ public health budgets.”