Warning that social care staff shortages will leave many without help

The Care Quality Commissioned have warned that there will be “a tsunami” of people without the care they need this winter unless staff shortages are tackled.

 

Ian Trenholm, the watchdog’s chief executive, said social care staff are “exhausted and depleted”.

 

In a report, the CQC urges immediate reparation work to address the problem of increasing numbers of unfiled social care sector jobs.

 

On Thursday, the government announced an additional £162.5m to boost the adult social care workforce, in addition to the £5.4bn earmarked for social care over the next three years.

 

The CQC welcomes the financial assistance, but warns that “it must be used to enable new ways of working that recognise the interdependency of all health and care settings, not just to prop up existing approaches an to plug demand in acute care.”

 

In the report, tribute was paid “to the professionalism and resilience of everyone that works in social care”, but Mr Trenholm warned “Those people cannot be expected to work any harder.

 

“If we’re to get safely through this winter, there needs to be urgent action.”

 

He went on to say that leaders of local health and social care services will need “to make maximum use of everything they have at their disposal to get safely through winter.  If these things don’t happen, there is the genuine risk of a tsunami of unmet need, with many people not getting the care that they so desperately need this winter.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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