Care 'catastrophe' as councils hit cash crisis

Closures warning after years of underfunding

- LUCY THORNTON

CARE homes are staring at "catastrophic" closures as social care budgets at councils are on the verge of going bust.

A depressing survey has revealed eight in 10 councils in England are on course to go over their budget on adult social care in this financial year.

More than a million people receive publicly funded social care in care homes and their own homes, including the elderly and disabled.

An emergency meeting was held on Tuesday with care providers and associations across the country to discuss the latest Budget and the impact it will have on the social care sector.

The bleak picture has been revealed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.

They warned their autumn survey did not even take account of the further damage caused by the government's announcement of an employer National Insurance hike. And it is feared that before long all councils will be in the same funding black hole.