Budget does not go far enough on social care in Harrow

In response to the autumn budget the Harrow LibDems say that local social care is being left behind.

Joseph Gaunt, Parliamentary Spokesperson for the local LibDems said:

“We were pleased to see that the budget contained provisions that the LibDems fought for in the general election. Notably, funding for the NHS, reform to Capital Gains Tax - maintaining the lowest rate in the G7 - and increase tax on private flights.

However, the budget misses the mark on a key topic for residents of Harrow, social care.

The NHS has been left in crisis with waiting lists at Northwick Park Hospitals increasing dramatically. Strains on the NHS would not be so prominent if there was effective support for social care.

In a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the LibDems to Harrow Council the LibDems found that 352 people were on the waiting list for occupational health services, and 119 people were on the waiting list for disability facilities grant funding. The current number of eligible people receiving long-term services for a social care need (all as of 30 June 2024).

We were pleased to see that some social care provisions were made in the investment in local authorities but throwing money at the problem does not go far enough to support this vital service.

Our community has suffered greatly from a lack of adequate social care as a result of Council decisions to scale back key facilities. We regularly hear from residents who have been forced to come out of work in order to care for families and receive substandard support from the Council. This is not good enough.

Harrow has the 3rd highest council tax bills in London with almost half of that money being provisioned for adult care. We need a root and branch review of how social care is delivered to our community. The LibDems will fight for this.

This budget has done nothing to help those who support loved ones in our area and fails to address the cliff edge faced by carers if they earn marginally more than the qualifying carers allowance limits.

We need to care for those that care for us.

Relatively minor increases to already stretched local government budgets cannot get us out of the difficulties we face on social care.

Family carers make great personal sacrifices to care for their loved ones. They are saving the NHS and social care services money and resources. It is important their voices are herd. They are often the overlooked frontline in care for the most vulnerable. I encourage family carers to contact me and discuss how local health and social care can be improved to support them and their loved ones better.”