Care England, a large representative body for independent providers of adult social care including the Quality Care Campaign, has expressed a deep concern as social care is once again left out of new funding this winter.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced that hospitals would received £145 million to prepare for the winter demand, sparking the concern from Care England.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “While we welcome the Government’s announcement to boost the NHS’ resilience to cope with the inevitable pressures this forthcoming winter it is futile if the social care sector is not overlooked. Every winter we see the NHS receive new funding while social care does not.”

The government announced earlier this month the extra funding the NHS will receive will go towards preparations for winter demand. The extra funding would go towards upgrading wards, redeveloping A&Es and the provisions of extra beds at NHS Trusts across the country.

“We hope however that the NHS will ensure that it works with the independent care sector to use existing spare capacity in care home. The Department of Health and Social Care needs to demonstrate its understanding of the system or revert to type and be called the Department of Health and dispense with the social care.”