The government’s emergency measures to tackle coronavirus could leave vulnerable people without necessary care, lawyers, MPs and campaigners have warned.
They say that the coronavirus bill - which was passed through the House of Commons last night - will remove local authorities’ duty to provide social care for people who need it.
The bill means councils no longer have to assess and meet the care needs of elderly and disabled people - unless they are required to under human rights laws.
The social care clauses are aimed at allowing local authorities to prioritise the care of those that are considered to be most at risk if the impact of coronavirus was to leave staff shortages in the sector.