Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Acknowledged
Adult social care system undermining Integrated Care System development due to funding disputes
Conclusion
The current state of the adult social care system is undermining the relationship building that is fundamental to the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). Too much relies on local leadership, where often it feels that progress is made despite funding mechanisms rather than because of them. By maintaining a system which fosters disputes about money, the ability of ICSs to make the difference they were set up to make will be limited at best, and impossible at worst. (Conclusion, Paragraph 106)
Government Response Summary
The government states it agrees with the conclusion and highlights its commitment of £9 billion to the Better Care Fund for 2025-26, refocusing it on prevention and community care. However, it does not explicitly commit to addressing how the current social care system undermines ICS relationships or fosters funding disputes.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We agree with this recommendation. We have committed around £9 billion of funding to the BCF for 2025 to 2026, including increasing the NHS minimum contribution to adult social care and the Disabled Facilities Grant. Through the BCF policy framework for 2025 to 2026, we have refocused the BCF to align with the health mission objectives of moving from a focus on sickness to a focus on prevention, and from hospital-based care to community-based care. The 2025 to 2026 framework sets the expectation that the NHS and local authorities work together to improve performance against metrics for: • emergency hospital admissions for people aged 65 and over • average lengths of discharge delay • long-term admissions to residential care homes and nursing homes for people aged 65 and over As set out in the 2025 to 2026 framework, the government is considering options for longer-term reform of the BCF. We will set out the approach to the BCF for 2026 and beyond in due course, taking account of the 10 Year Health Plan.