ePolitix.com stakeholders comment on Sir Simon Milton's suggestion that money should be diverted from the NHS to pay for social care.

He is urging ministers to switch extra funding expected to go to the NHS to preventative services for the elderly, which he believes will save money in the long-term for hospitals, and improve quality of life for the elderly.

Stakeholder response: Local Government Association (LGA)

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A spokesman said: "There are only two areas of government spending which have not been decided yet - for councils and the National Health Service.

"The situation is quite stark. If the settlement is at the upper, two per cent real terms increase end of expectations, then in theory, councils could get quite close to a sustainable position, provided they are prepared to put up council tax by close to the five per cent per year unofficial 'capping' level.

"However, if the settlement is at the lower zero per cent real terms increase end of expectations, then there will be real difficulties for councils.

"In the next three years alone, there will be more than 400,000 more older people, many of whom will require social care.

"Without additional funding, local government may potentially face a situation, by as early as 2009, where it cannot afford to provide support to 370,000 people with lower levels of need.

"A poor funding settlement for local government will inevitably place pressure on both council tax and services."

Stakeholder response: Age Concern

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Gordon Lishman, director general, said: "It is a disgrace that half a million older people are already being denied social care due to chronic under-investment in the system.

"Without a significant commitment to increase funding for social care in real terms, many more older people will be denied this basic, but essential help.

"Failure to invest in social care is short-sighted. Without practical help, older people can end up needing higher levels of care sooner than they would otherwise."

Stakeholder response: Help the Aged

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Paul Cann, policy director, said: "Sadly there is every likelihood that the upcoming spending round will indeed be tough for social care - leading councils to make this desperate call for funds.

"The failure of government to ensure that social care budgets keep pace with the growth in the older population has meant that in many areas, eligibility criteria for social care are now eye-wateringly tight.

"This is clearly bad news for older people who are left without the services they need to maintain dignity and independence.

"The situation is now at crisis point.  If the government had taken heed some years ago of those who argued that funds for acute care should be diverted into preventative interventions, then perhaps this situation could have been averted.

"The solution must be to properly invest in social care as our population ages.

"The demands on local authorities will increase inexorably as the numbers of older people increases. 

"Investment in this spending round is an absolute must. But thinking longer-term, we need to find a new way of paying for care with a fairer contract between individual and the state."