Figures secured by the Learning Disability Coalition have revealed a new social care crisis. The data reveals councils facing immense financial pressures are rationing support by only providing social care to those people with very high levels of need. Councils planning to support only people with substantial or critical needs will rise from 53% to 62%. The coalition revealed Northumberland CC, West Berkshire and Wokingham Councils would only provide services to people with critical needs. ‘It is unacceptable that in the UK in the 21st century, local authorities are refusing support to very vulnerable people with a learning disability who have no-one else to turn to,' said Dame Jo Williams, coalition co-chair and chief executive of Mencap. A Northumberland CC spokesman told The MJ the decision to set its eligibility criteria at critical was made in 2003, but added, ‘we are reviewing the case for a change'. West Berkshire Council's executive member for care has asked for a review of the current process of assessment to ensure the council's social care services ‘maintains its high-quality service' to the increasing number of people requiring services now and in the future.
