Nicola’s Blog – Spring Budget predictions

As the UK approaches the 2025 Spring Budget, all eyes are on the government’s plans for public spending and economic recovery. With the social care system already under significant pressure, we need the government to address its long-standing challenges.

What to Expect

There has been some speculation this week that future plans for the NHS will see funds allocated to social care by Wes Streeting. On Monday 24 March, he was quoted in The Standard and The Independent newspaper from a BBC Panorama episode at the weekend: “I want to spend more of our resources through social care because it delivers better outcomes for patients and better value for taxpayers.

“So I’m convinced that we can spend NHS resources more effectively through social care.” However, no specific figures have been quoted, and the very real risk is that any further support offered to the sector will be from existing social care funding and not new or additional funding.

The social care sector in the UK has faced persistent funding shortfalls, workforce shortages, and an increased demand for services. Care providers have been under strain for years.

Anticipating where cuts will be

With the recent announcements on Employers National Insurance increases and National Minimum Wage increases pushing the system towards collapse without significant financial intervention.

We are also anticipating further and significant cuts to public spending, both on welfare changes but also on the civil service. There are not anticipated to be any additional tax rises to be faced by working people.