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Chancellor Philip Hammond made a "mistake" not investing in social care in his Autumn Statement, a former health secretary has said.

NHS Confederation chairman Stephen Dorrell said a small investment could deliver "significant improvements" and urged the government to rethink.

Council leaders have warned a social care crisis is "happening right now".

The government says local authorities will have £3.5bn more to spend on social care by 2020.

There have been repeated warnings about the costs of an ageing population and the impact of cuts in social care spending in England.

In some cases, patients are fit to leave hospitals but continue to occupy beds because of problems arranging social care.

But the chancellor did not specifically offer new resources either for the NHS or social care when outlining the Treasury's plans on Wednesday, only confirming that ministers would be sticking with departmental spending announced last year.

Mr Dorrell was health secretary under John Major between 1995 and 1997, more recently served as chairman of the health select committee and is now chairman of the NHS Confederation, which represents health managers across the UK.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he said he was not simply calling for extra cash for the NHS but for investment in social care, saying he was "very disappointed" none was announced because the system was "inadequately funded".

He said investment in social care would improve "the productivity of the whole health and social care system" and help people who are "just about managing" - the group Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to support.

He added: "It's no good going into this winter saying 'it's all going to be all right' when you already have lengthening queues in Accident and Emergency departments and hospitals unable to discharge people."

Mr Dorrell is the second former Conservative health secretary to question the lack of provision for social care in the Autumn Statement.

On Thursday, Lord Lansley said he was "disappointed" more funding was not announced and called on the government to implement recommendations made in the last parliament to cap social care costs.

NHS v social care

NHS: Budget controlled by NHS England and pays for hospitals, GPs, district nursing and mental health care. Services are provided free at the point of need.

Care: Budget controlled by councils and pays for care home and nursing home places as well as support in the home for tasks such as washing and dressing. Services are means-tested so only the poorest get help towards their costs.

And in a letter to The Observer, the leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent groups of the Local Government Association said the government could no longer ignore the social care "crisis".

"The fact the government appears to have chosen not to act will lower the quality of life for our elderly and vulnerable residents," they added.

Image caption Stephen Dorrell was health secretary under John Major

On ITV's Peston on Sunday, Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green pointed to the Better Care Fund, a joint pot of money used by councils and the NHS to support care services.

And he said councils in England had been given permission to raise council tax to generate extra funds.

Speaking on Thursday, Mrs May said: "I recognise the concerns and challenges around social care. By the end of this parliament, the local authorities will have £3.5bn more to spend on social care and of course we're putting more money into the health service as well.

"But we need to see the health service and social care working together - that's why the health secretary and the local communities secretary are apprised of the need for the challenges faced and are looking at this issue."