Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed the opportunity for the health and care workforce to present its views on reducing overly burdensome or dysfunctional bureaucracy in the health and social care system.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has increased both the political and public saliency of the adult social care sector due to the pressures and challenges that the pandemic has presented. Despite this, the Government grants allocated to aid the sector have not, in the main, reached the frontline in a timely and effective manner. This is very much in contrast to the NHS, which received major financial boosts directly, such as the cancelling of over £13bn debt overnight.”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has sought evidence from health and care professionals in relation to reducing bureaucracy https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reducing-bureaucracy-in-the-health-and-social-care-system-call-for-evidence
Over the course of the pandemic the Government has allocated an unprecedented amount, approximately £4bn, to Local Authorities to aid the pandemic response. Due to the allocation of money through the failed mechanism of the Local Authorities, this money has not reached the frontline. This has been evidenced publicly at the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on 22 June.
Care England maintains that the lack of uniformity in the approaches of Local Authorities is a symptom of the lack of oversight of Local Authorities. This is indicative of the need for greater oversight to be placed upon commissioners and remains a blind spot within the adult social care system and how it is regulated.
Martin Green continues:
“The pandemic has highlighted that additional funding is necessary to not only meet the additional pressures produced by Covid-19, but also to meet the pressures prevalent prior to the pandemic. This funding should be allocated with as few bureaucratic hoops as possible in order to reduce the barriers to providing care.”
