More uncertainty for MS patients over new drug

12.00.00am GMT Thu 9th Nov 2000

Commenting on the Tracking the Changes in Social Services in England report, published by the Audit Commission and Social Services Inspectorate, which found that, from inspections completed in 2002, 1 in 5 councils were not serving people well and none of the councils inspected achieved a 3-star rating, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Social Services said: -

"Ministers have been warned for years about the consequences of a failure to invest in social services. We now have a situation where councils are failing to provide basic services for some of the most vulnerable in society.

"Too often, Government seeks to blame social services for under-performing when all to often it is the under-resourcing that is causing the holes in the safety net to widen.

"This report comes on top of the damming report by the Chief Inspector of Social Services last month and continues to show the glaring neglect that has blighted this sector for decades.

"It is time Ministers put words into action and put into place effective recruitment and retention practices to stop social services having to take on some of the most challenging roles without the necessary personnel to do the job.