Liberal Democrats warn Social Care cuts are driving down standards (Suffolk County Council Liberal Democrats)

Suffolk County Council Liberal Democrats <info@suffolkcclibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats warn Social Care cuts are driving down standards

January 9, 2009 12:00 AM

At a meeting with local government minister John Healey MP this week, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Suffolk County Council, Kathy Pollard warned that cuts to social care budgets were reducing standards.

Cllr Pollard, who was a member of a cross party delegation from the County Councils Network, highlighted how the continuing pressure to cut budgets are impacting vulnerable people.

Mrs Pollard added, "Suffolk has already lost one star from its adult social care rating following cuts of £35m in the last three years. With further cuts of £7m planned for 2009/10 older people will be getting a worse service, and may not qualify for council care at all."

"The largest budget within the County Council used to be Children and Young People services. Now that the Government directly funds schools, Adult and Community services has the largest budget. This has made it a greater target for cuts, putting more and more pressure on the staff and inevitably causing problems for vulnerable adults across the county. Government must understand that many of the so called efficiency savings being made by councils are not efficiencies but service cuts. These cuts inevitably lead to a downgrading of the service provided by the council."