British public backs rise in social care spending

More than four in five people support a 3.9% spending increasing in social care, an NHS Confederation poll has found.

Almost half (45%) agreed said funding needs should be met through raising National insurance and 42% backed higher income tax. The poll finding also found strong backing for increasing NHS spending through higher taxes.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare system, said: “What this shows is overwhelming support across the country for increased funding for the NHS but also for social care.

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“The public increasingly realises the importance of a health and care system that is fit for the future.

“The message is simple – if we want good, effective and safe services, we will have to find the resources to pay for them. This poll also suggests the public favours paying more tax or national insurance, over increasing government borrowing.

“It is now for the politicians to decide what to do next – the greatest risk lies in doing nothing.”

The findings follow a recent report by the NHS Confederation which revealed that more than 400,000 fewer people accessed publically funded social care in 2016/17 compared with 2009/10.