Response to budget announcement

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK and Co-Chair of the CSA (Care Support Alliance) said: "Given the threat posed by the Coronavirus we understand why the Chancellor decided to prioritise strengthening our national resilience and we are pleased that the NHS and social care are both in the mix for extra emergency funding if required. We also note the very substantial additional infrastructure investment that the Chancellor announced today and the fact that the refinancing and reform of our social care system seems to have been passed over yet again, making us worry that by the time the Government decides on what it wants to do to 'fix social care', as it has promised, there may not be the funds left to do all that needs to be done.

"After so many disappointments there's bound to be a concern that social care is destined to be always the bridesmaid and never the bride, and unfortunately today's Budget did nothing to alleviate our anxiety."