Chris Loder MP supports Dorset Council’s excellent record caring for the people who need it in West Dorset despite spiralling costs of adult social care.
He believes that we need to make sure that, if the public is being asked to pay a further 1.25% of earnings to support health and social care as part of the Government's planned £36billion investment in NHS and social care, this money is going to the places where it is most effective. For social care, it is most effective with the local authorities.
Dorset Council currently spends £178 million (over 50%) of its budget on social care.
Chris said, ‘I know that Dorset Council has always been financially prudent, but nonetheless the high age demographic in West Dorset and Dorset as a whole means that the Council’s social care spending is ever increasing, regardless of how well they handle their money. It currently accounts for half of their budget. I am in favour of the health and social care levy to support councils like Dorset Council, but we must be absolutely certain that the funding is going to the right place.’
This year, Dorset Council had to raise council tax by 5% to meet this growing need for social care – that means as it stands, residents in Dorset are effectively making two payments for health and social care. If we make sure the levy’s funding goes to local authorities appropriately, we can ensure people are not overburdened.
Chris Loder said, ‘I am not instinctively a fan of raising taxes, but given the very difficult situation we are in – with a deficit of £350 billion after the pandemic – it is vital that we provide funding to sort out the NHS backlog, and support a better social care system but we need stronger and more fundamental reform going forward.’
