Care providers will descend on Westminster next month to demand the Government plug a ‘£2billion funding shortfall’ following the October Budget.
Nearly 3,000 in the sector united for the first time to warn that Labour’s policies had left adult social care on the brink of collapse and in need of at least £2 billion in immediate aid.
A letter signed by 2,900 workers, care groups and charities was sent to the Chancellor in November, urging her to reconsider policies which threaten the ‘most overlooked citizens’.
Frustrated at Rachel Reeves’s lack of response, the so-called Providers Unite group will march outside Parliament on February 25.
It comes as ministers were warned last year that care providers would come under pressure following the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions.
Unlike public organisations, such as the NHS, which were exempt from Ms Reeves’ hike, most care providers are privately run and will be hit by the increase.
Providers’ problems are compounded by the minimum wage hike from £11.44 to £12.21.
Rachael Dodgson, Chief Executive of support provider Dimensions – which supports 3,500 people – said the national insurance rise would cost her firm £5million next year and the minimum wage hike another £10.2million.
Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey said last October: ‘Hammering small businesses with a tax hike is the wrong choice.
‘It will hit people’s wages and jobs, but it also risks worsening the NHS crisis by hiking costs for care providers and pushing some to the brink.’