Save Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Social care hit by NHS deficits
By Branwen Jeffreys
BBC News, health correspondent


Social care for vulnerable people is being squeezed as a result of NHS deficits, according to the Local Government Association.

The LGA says costs are being shunted to social services departments as the NHS in England aims to balance its books.

A survey of 60 councils which run social services found two thirds say NHS debts are affecting them.

Forty per cent of the councils surveyed by the LGA said the knock on effect of the financial pressure in the NHS was worse than in previous years.

When the organisations were asked what the NHS had done in their area to affect them, half said beds had been closed, and a quarter said there had been a reduction in district nurse numbers.

Another 14% said there were increased waiting times for NHS services, such as admission to hospital while 13% said community hospitals had been closed.

In addition, more than a third of the councils in the LGA survey say they are having to take responsibility for more cases normally dealt with by the NHS.

IF THIS IS HOW THE PCT'S ARE GOING TO BALANCE THEIR BOOKS THE COUNCIL TAX PAYER WILL BE ASKED FOR MORE AND COUNCIL SERVICES WILL HAVE TO BE CUT..................
SHAMEFULL AND IF THE NHS WAS FAIRLY FUNDED FOR ALL THEN THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE..............COUNCILS PICKING UP THE NHS RESPONSIBILTY................SHAME ON YOU PATRICIA HEWITT............THE WRECKER OF THE NHS.............