Almost 50 council leaders from the largest local authorities have joined forces to warn the Government that services for the elderly are facing a funding ‘crisis'. The Government has called for joined-up working between local government and the health service, but huge strains remain between the NHS and councils which feel cost-shunting has burdened them with excessive bills. Lord Bruce-Lockhart, chair of the Local Government Association said the disparity between funding ploughed into the NHS and local authorities had last year left social services directors with a funding black hole of £1.8bn. ‘If something isn't done fairly rapidly, there will be a total crisis in care for the elderly,' added Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex CC, who last week led a House of Lords debate over funding, and the consequences for the elderly. ‘This must be addressed in next year's Comprehensive Spending Review. It is a near miracle how local authorities are coping at the moment. Councils have to care for people who would have previously been looked after by the NHS.
