The Independent Care Group has thrown its weight behind a national day of action to call on the Government to help social care.
ICG representatives will join care providers from across the country when they converge on Westminster on 25th February.
They will be calling on the Government to review the impact the proposed increase in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and rise in the National Living Wage will have on social care.
ICG Chair, Mike Padgham urged all providers to join the day of action, which is being organised by Providers Unite, a coalition of social care representatives.
“Enough is enough – we have to make a stand and show that the country cannot go on neglecting and ignoring social care any longer,” he said.
“We have had three decades of under-finding and neglect, of broken promises and of waiting for reform that has never come.
“And that has led us to a point where 2m people cannot get the care they need to enjoy a decent quality of life.
“That is a betrayal of people who deserve better - of grand-parents, parents, husbands and wives, aunts, uncles and friends.
“We have been politely asking for reform for 30 years or more and it has never come. On the 25th of February care providers have an opportunity to stand up and speak for those who don’t have a strong voice and to demand reform.
“I urge everyone who can get down to Westminster to go and show the Government that this time social care has to change.”
The planned day of action is a demonstration of the level of concern social care providers have over the impact budget measures will have on the delivery of care. They say that without Government help, the combined impact of increases in the Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage could be devastating on a sector that is already on its knees. They fear provider closures and more people going without care.
Campaigners want the Government to review the budget measures, make social care providers exempt from the rise in National Insurance or to put more funding into the sector to help them cope with rising costs.
The day of action takes place on Tuesday, 25th February. More details: https://www.providersunite.co.uk/