THERE has been speculation about how the recent budget will affect social services.

Wes Streeting has recently spoken of reform and increased efficiency in the public sector.

The worst inefficiency and greatest waste of money is surely keeping people in hospital who could be discharged into the community. NHS money could be used to fund social care in this way. This would cost billions, but there would also be savings for the NHS which could then be applied to shortening waiting lists.

The financing would be complex, but could be agreed between councils and the NHS as long as the Treasury is not permitted to repeat the usual pattern of cutting local authority funding.

If this could be carried out successfully it would benefit the NHS, councils and the families of those in need of social care, as well as elderly and disabled people.

Bob Holland, Keighley