'Perfect storm' bringing social care to its knees

Staff shortage, sky-high waiting lists and lack of funding blamed

- Giles Sheldrick

MILLIONS are at the mercy of a perfect storm that has brought social care "to its knees", say MPs.

They warn today that long-standing issues have put some of the country's most vulnerable in crisis.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee discovered understaffing, growing waiting lists and patchwork funding are piling pressure on hard-up councils. Many have gone bust or are close to doing so.

Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier said: "Years of fragmented funding and the absence of a clear roadmap has brought the adult social care sector to its knees.