CARE providers have urged councils in York and North Yorkshire to make sure new government funding for social care gets to frontline services.

The Independent Care Group, which represents care providers in the region, is calling on both City of York and North Yorkshire County Councils to revisit the fees they pay to providers after the Chancellor announced an extra £2billion for social care - £1billion of which can be used in 2017-18.

The group is asking councils to use their share of the fund to pay a fairer price for the care it commissions from care providers.

The call comes after BBC’s Panorama programme revealed that one in four of the UK’s home care companies are at risk of going under because of the inadequate amount paid by councils.

The Independent Care Group’s chair, Mike Padgham said providers across North Yorkshire and York were disappointed by the fee increases offered this year, with many saying it was not enough to allow them to continue providing proper care and reward staff appropriately.

Mr Padgham said: “The Government has said this money is to enable local authorities to take immediate action to fund care for more people, support social care providers in supplying that care and relieve pressure on the NHS.

“We are going back to our local authorities and asking them to revisit the fees they have said they will pay providers in the coming year in the light of the additional funding and seeking an improvement in the offer.

“It is vital that this extra money goes to providing care for the region’s oldest and most vulnerable adults, and doesn’t get swallowed up in bureaucracy.”