NHS funding for nursing care in care homes is ‘insufficient’ to recruit and retain registered nurses, a new report has suggested.
The findings come from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) 2024 Spring Survey, published in a report on Tuesday.
The annual survey had 145 responses from directors across different councils in England and was carried out between 17 April and 4 June 2024.
It found that 93% of councils believe that NHS-Funded Nursing Care (FNC) ‘doesn’t cover the true cost of nurses working in care home settings’ and leaves the ‘financial difference to be picked up by councils or self-funders’.
The funded nursing care rate helps cover the costs of nursing care in care homes for those with a variety of needs, including people with learning disabilities, those living with enduring physical or mental health needs and various conditions associated with old age.
It was this year increased by 7.4% from £219.71 to £235.88 – a move previously described as a ‘win’ for the sector.
However, the ADASS survey saw the majority (86%) of councils report that the rate was ‘insufficient to recruit and retain nurses working in social care’ in their area.
Anna Hemmings, ADASS chief executive, told Nursing in Practice: ‘Whether it’s enabling people to return home more rapidly after a hospital stay or keeping people well and out of hospital in the first place, more nurses in our community are key to delivering the type of increased complex care we are seeing.’
She reiterated that current funding levels ‘are not sufficient’ to attract and retain social care nurses the care needed.
‘To reduce pressure on our hospitals and produce more effective working between health and social care, we are calling for a shift in investment from acute and crisis care to primary, community and adult social care, including community nursing,’ added Ms Hemmings.
Other key findings from ADASS suggested that the increase in complex and long-term care, as well as the recent increase to the National Living Wage and inflation, had seen 72% of councils in England overspend on their adult social care budgets in 2023/24 – from 63% in 2022/23.
The overspend nationally for 2023/24 totalled £586 (based on 145 responses), up significantly from £74 million in 2022/23.
According to ADASS, social care directors are planning to deliver £903 million in savings in the current financial year, in response to rising service costs.
Responding to these latest findings, chief executive of Care England Professor Martin Green, said: ‘The survey results underscore the precarious state of adult social care in England, revealing that even with temporary funding boosts, local authorities are under immense financial strain.
‘The £586 million overspend and the impending need to find £903 million in savings illustrate just how dire the situation is.
‘The current funding levels are insufficient to support a robust and sustainable social care system.’
