Milburn ‘slur’ angers nursing home sector

Nursing home owners have responded angrily to
a comment made by health secretary Alan Milburn in the House of
Commons last week.

Speaking about capacity problems in nursing
and residential care homes he said that respect must be given to
what most older people and people with mental health problems want,
“which is not to be banged-up in a care home but to be cared for in
their own homes”.

The Registered Nursing Home Association said
that referring to older people being “banged up” was a slur on the
staff who care for older people with physical or mental health
problems.

The RNHA claimed that the comment revealed the
government’s true attitude towards nursing and residential care
homes, while RNHA chief executive officer Frank Ursell described
Milburn’s words as “something of a body blow”.

– Association of Directors of Social Services
president Mike Leadbetter has welcomed a tribute from the Prime
Minister to social workers and social care staff at an
unprecedented reception at 10 Downing Street.

Leadbetter also praised health secretary Alan
Milburn’s acknowledgement of the sector’s funding difficulties.
Milburn told allied health professionals at a conference last month
that “sustained investment will be needed to maintain this
progress” (News, pages 9 and 14, 21 March).

Promising that social services would respond
to the reform agenda, Leadbetter said: “Social services have
delivered, can deliver, and will deliver care, support, and
protection to vulnerable children and adults.”