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They are handing back contracts to local councils as they can no longer provide services, according to a financial impact assessment by sector watchdog the Care Quality Commission Market Oversight Scheme.

Now campaigners fear a repeat of the closure of the provider Southern Cross which saw 30,000 pensioners and disabled people put at risk in 2015.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “It’s hard to know whether these factors could push one or more big care providers over the brink but there’s no doubt some are much closer to the edge than any of us would like.

“If a care provider does fall over and cease operations it’s a potential disaster for any older person affected.”

The industry body, the Independent Care Group, fears the service will have to collapse before the Government steps in and rescues the sector.

ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “Here we have yet another terrifying report, from the Government’s own care watchdog, warning of the imminent collapse of the social care sector. [It] is suffering death by a thousand cuts because it is seeing smaller care and nursing homes and care providers closing.

“My fear is it will only be when the loss of social care provision brings hospitals to an absolute standstill that ministers will wake up to the crisis on their doorstep.”

At least 1.6 million people need care and there are 165,000 job vacancies in the sector. It needs another £7billion a year just to cover existing costs, according to the ICG.

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