Forum Central has been asking third sector health and care organisations to share how the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis is affecting their ability to run services, any risks to staff and organisation viability. We have been asking this every quarter since September 2022. The latest results are out now.
View the survey results
Forum Central Cost Pressures Survey Results – January 2024 (link to online google doc)
The results can also be found, along with past results on the Forum Central Cost-of-Living and Cost Pressures page.
Key summary points
- Third Sector providers are having to turn away people in need: almost 60% of respondents have had to operate a waiting list for their services. 48% of respondents have had to reduce or close a service/services since September 2022. 84% were concerned they would have to reduce of close a service this winter.
- Cost pressures are coming from multiple directions: raising energy and staff costs are significant factors. A 300% energy bill increase was reported by one respondent. Financial challenges are resulting in organisations having to close.
- Chronic lack of uplifts are creating unsustainable services: with some organisations using reserves to cover pay increases or subsidise contracts.
- Workforce under continuous pressure: staff retention challenges; higher staff turnover; recruitment problems; and newly appointed staff not starting or leaving quickly.
- Third Sector Organisation Boards are being asked to take high level risks: use of reserves, lowering pay scales, service reduction affecting service quality.
What questions were asked?
- Are you concerned your organisation is at risk of losing staff this winter as a result of rising operating costs/contract cost pressures/Cost of Living?
- Are you concerned your organisation is at risk of service reduction this winter as a result of rising operating costs/contract cost pressures/Cost of Living?
- Are you concerned your organisation is at risk of closing your organisation this winter as a result of rising operating costs/contract cost pressures/Cost of Living?
- As a result of rising operating costs/contract cost pressures/Cost of Living – have you had to reduce or close any services since September 2022?
- Would you like to flag a service at risk for possible inclusion on a Population/Care Board’s risk register?
- Have you had to operate a waiting list or not accept new service users for any of your services, because your services are at full capacity?
