OXFORDSHIRE is facing a “demographic timebomb” and the county council and primary care trust have been too slow to react, a new report has said.

Dr Jonathan McWilliam, the county’s public health director, reckons without immediate action, pensioners of the future are going to be left high and dry.

The county council last night admitted the figures were “absolutely terrifying”.

In his annual report on the health of the county, Dr McWilliam said the number of people aged 85 and over in Oxfordshire would increase by 150 per cent in Cherwell, Vale and West Oxfordshire, 125 per cent in South Oxfordshire and 70 per cent in Oxford by 2029.

He said: “The impact on services will be severe and the current range of services we provide will simply not be affordable.

“Because the proportion of younger people in Britain is falling compared with older people, demand for informal care by older people is predicted to exceed supply within the next 10 years –– by 2017.

“We need to move faster because the demographic timebomb won’t wait for us.

“Progress has been made during 2007/09, but compared with the size of the problem, progress is still too slow.”

Jim Couchman, the county’s cabinet member for social and community services, said the council was working hard to defuse the timebomb.

He said: “Dr McWilliam’s report acknowledges we have made progress since his last report, but there are still clearly areas which we have got to work at even harder. People aged 85 or over make very great use of both health and social care services.

“One in two needs some social care help, one in four needs a full care programme and one in three develops elements of dementia.

“The figures are absolutely terrifying.”

Oxfordshire PCT declined to comment on the report.