New report highlights chronic underfunding of UK homecare services

Homecare services in the UK are at serious risk as a consequence of widespread and systematic underfunding, according to a new report.

A study from the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) saw Freedom of Information Act enquiries sent to 208 local councils, revealing an estimated 513 million pound deficit across the UK for 2016-17.

The prices that individual councils are willing to pay for essential care services tend to greatly vary, even within the same region, while providers in many parts of the country need to pay considerably higher than the National Living Wage to recruit workers with the skills, abilities and experience they need to deliver safe and effective care.

These underfunding issues are persisting despite a growing recognition that meeting people's care needs at home can be beneficial to treating them in hospital and can free up crucial NHS resources.

UKHCA's policy director Colin Angel said: "We have already seen evidence of homecare providers leaving the state-funded care market, or closing their doors for good because they cannot afford to remain in business."

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