Care leader to write to every MP over social care crisis

Chair of the Independent Care Group (ICG), Mike Padgham, is to write to every MP to call for measures to halt the adult social care crisis.

Mike will tell ICG members at their conference in Harrogate today that radical action is required to prevent the figure of 1.4m people not having their care needs met growing even higher.

“A phrase used recently suggested the government was in denial about poverty – well I’m sorry to say I think the government is in denial about social care too,” Mike will say.

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“It thinks all is well and that a bit of tinkering here and there will solve the problems.

“They are sleepwalking into a disaster that will have dire and far-reaching consequences, for many years to come.”

He will warn that the difficulties faced by companies like homecare provider Allied Healthcare and many other smaller care providers, will only get worse unless more funding is put into the care of older and vulnerable adults.

He is to write to every single MP in the House of Commons – some 650 members – calling on them to take action to protect those needing care in their constituencies.

“We have to get our message across, loud and clear or else the crisis will drag on and more and more providers will close and more and more people will go without care,” Mike will say.

The conference, at the Pavilions in Harrogate, will also hear from a line-up of key speakers. These include former Care Services Minister Paul Burstow, now chair of SCIE, Dr Ben Maruthappu, a British physician, academic researcher, health policy specialist and entrepreneur and Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, CEO of Advinia Healthcare, a growing care home operator.

BBC television personality Harry Gration is to chair the conference and The Guardian’s Social Affairs Editor David Brindle and the BBC’s Social Affairs Editor Alison Holt are also amongst the speakers.

The main conference theme is innovation and delegates are due to hear about how new technology, including robotics, will aid the delivery of care, alongside the latest developments in hydration and nutrition, surroundings and wellbeing, health and safety, and person-centred software.