NHS Budget announcement: "deafening silence" on social care cannot continue

EMBARGO: 22.30 Monday 28th October

Responding to the government’s announcement that there are funding plans to deliver two million extra NHS appointments, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

"The new funding is of course welcome but the deafening silence on social care cannot be allowed to continue.

“Patients have faced the crushing consequences of sky-high waiting lists after years of the Conservatives' shameful neglect of our NHS and care services.

“Thousands of people well enough to be discharged are stuck in hospital beds, unable to leave because the social care simply doesn’t exist, meaning others cannot get the care they need.

“Until the government gets a grip of social care, hospitals will remain overwhelmed and patients will pay the price."

ENDS