Worried care providers have spoken out over the worsening crisis in social care which has left care homes at ‘breaking point’ and the threat of several people going without care.

As a national campaign to urge the Government to set out how it plans to protect the older and vulnerable adults, the Independent Care Group backed Care England’s call for urgent action.

Care England has launched a campaign to get the Government to publish its Green Paper on social care – setting out how it will protect and guarantee beds for those in need.

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, said: “I welcome Care England’s campaign pointing out that we see evidence that the country is not equipped to look after our oldest and most vulnerable adults. Councils are not keeping pace with the cost of providing care and so care homes are being forced to close or cut back on provision. The Government should fund local authorities adequately so they can discharge their responsibilities.

“The 1.4m people currently living without care is a national disgrace and that figure is only set to increase.

“We are promised that the Green Paper on social care should be published ‘before April’. But given that it has been delayed at least four times so far and the continuing wrangling over Brexit, that looks less and less likely.

“The situation is becoming intolerable. With care homes closing and homecare providers handing back unviable contracts, more and more people aren’t getting the care they need. For the sake of the 1.4m people who aren’t getting care and the many more who will join them this year, we can’t allow that to continue another day more.”