In December 2024, over 600k adults in England were in receipt of long term social care support, data visualised by Polimapper shows.
The statistics published this morning by the Department of Health and Social Care reveal that there was a 3% increase in the number of recipients of long-term support between January and December, which equals 1,460 people per 100k adults. Middlesbrough, Wirral, and Blackpool show the highest rates in the country.
Additionally, 72% of those receiving long-term social care support accessed this in a community setting, 20% in residential care homes, and 8% in nursing homes.
Polimapper has visualised the latest DHSC data to showcase nationwide disparities between local authorities.
As of 31st December 2024, Middlesbrough saw a rate of 3,233 people per 100k in receipt of long term care. Conversely, this was lowest in the London areas of Lambeth and Bromley, at 958 and 973 per 100k adults respectively.
Regarding overall social care, occupancy in social care homes was over 90% in 33 local authorities. High occupancy can potentially strain services and cause sustainability issues in the long term. Occupancy was highest in Hounslow, at 94.8% and lowest in Newham (66.9%), Slough (73.7%), and Blackburn with Darwen (77.7%). See how your area compares below!
About this map
The map below shows Social Care Statistics for 2024 and 2025, by local authority. The data refers to receipt of long-term social care support, occupancy count and rates, and social care assessments.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page version!
Geodata context
The new numbers come a day after the ‘Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2024’ report was released by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust, revealing low satisfaction rates with social care in the UK.
Only 13% of respondents were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with social social care. This contrasts with 53% claiming that they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ dissatisfied.
The Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund claim that “Although the number of people requesting social care in England was around 10% greater in 2022/23 than it was in 2015/16, the number of people accessing support dropped during that period. Failures to provide the right care and support at the right time have wide-ranging consequences beyond the devastating ones they can have for the person in need themselves.”
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association: “We are deeply concerned by the findings from the latest British Social Attitudes survey, and yet it paints a picture we are now all too familiar with; a health service under immense strain, with public satisfaction with the NHS at an all-time low.”
Saffron Cordery, chief executive at NHS Providers: “These findings also show that the public share trust leaders’ concerns about workforce shortages and pressures on social care, too.”
“NHS trust leaders are committed to delivering high quality care, tackling waiting lists and ensuring people get the care they need as quickly as possible across hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services. They are making progress, but they know they need to go further and faster to give patients the health services they want and deserve.”