THE spiralling cost of adult home care has left health bosses with a £6million headache.

The primary care trust, NHS South East Essex, had budgeted £10.9million to fund care for housebound adults with chronic health problems this year.

However, it has now been esimated the cost of the service will rise to £17million.

A trust spokeswoman said respite care for carers would be one area to suffer. But the trust is unsure where the rest of the £6million shortfall will be found.

She said: “Recent information on continuing care activity indicates this growth.

“There is now a risk, by the end of the year, this could result in the budget being exceeded by £6million.”

About £500,000 was earmarked for carers each year, so they could take respite breaks from their unpaid care work. This fund has been slashed to £50,000, which sits alongside a separate £50,000-a-year fund for carers.

The spokeswoman added that, as a result, the trust would not be able to release cash for new investments – projects which have not been budgeted for.

Ian Stidston, the trust’s director of primary care and partnership commissioning, said: “The trust is investigating possible reasons behind the increased spend for continuing care, to inform future decision making.

“The trust’s current initiatives to support carers, which include a number of respite schemes, will continue.”

Southend Council’s Labour group leader, Ian Gilbert, blamed the Government’s controversial health reforms.

He said: “I don’t want to criticise the primary care trust. I just feel very sorry for people who are trying to plan and budget health services, in the midst of the chaos surrounding the Government’s proposals.”

By 2013, primary care trusts will be scrapped under the Government’s NHS reforms.

Last year, NHS South East Essex had a total budget of £550million. It plans to spend £557million this year.