Tory Budget Reveals Care Homes Time-Bomb

Written by Cllr Alan Paul on Mon 22nd Feb 2010

Dear Sir,

Care Homes throughout Somerset are warning that a last-minute decision by the Conservative County Council to cut the level of fees stipulated in their contracts could lead to a drop in standards of care for vulnerable older people, and even the closure of some Homes. It could also mean that for Residential and Nursing Homes to stay open, those who fund themselves may have to pay more to make up for the underfunding by the County Council.

One of the shabbiest aspects of this decision was that the Tories tried to smuggle it through the Council in secret, using weasel words about 'savings from procurement' instead of being honest about their plan to cut about £2.5 million from the Care budget.

Until we received letters from all the Care Homes a few days before the meeting. Liberal Democrat councillors may never have known about this cut.

The Care Home managers have warned that the County Council may be in breach of contract and that legal action may ensue. When we questioned this at the Council budget meeting, the Conservatives were forced to admit that they haven't even bothered to find out if their action was legal before sneaking it through.

I don't know which is worse - the secrecy, the incompetence or the total lack of care for the vulnerable.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Paul (County Councillor for Taunton West)