FURTHER cuts to the council’s social care budget could end up doing more financial harm than good.

At a Hampshire County Council select committee meeting on May 24 initial approval was given to cuts of £320,000 from social care grants.

This money is currently given to charities working on tackling loneliness and social isolation among elderly residents.

The fear now is that if these charities cannot provide the service, more people will enter the health and social care system, costing the county council more money that is being saved.

MHA Communities is one of the services supported by the county council, which gets elderly people out in groups and offers one-to-one support.

READ MORE: County council warned it will face £250m 'black hole' in budget

Scheme manager Anna Miles branded the cuts as "short-sighted".

She said: "We understand the need to make savings across the board, but I believe services like ours justify the continuation of funding.

"We help to keep people active and out of the health and social care system. No savings made outweigh the benefits of these services."

Suggestions were made about delaying the cuts by – but council officers warned against this, citing inflationary concerns.

After two hours of debate the proposals were agreed by the select committee. A final decision will be made by the executive member for adults’ health and care, Cllr Liz Fairhurst, this month.

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