Inquiry report calls for national funding review after older woman’s death

An inquiry into the death if an 88-year-old woman who died less
than two weeks after being moved to a new care home because the
council could not afford to pay her fees, has recommended the
government launch a national independent review of social care
funding.

Violet Townsend died in February after she was moved from
Magdalen House in Gloucester, her home for eight years, because
Gloucestershire council could not afford to increase by £79
the £374.50 fee per week it was paying to home owner
Gloucester Charities.

The inquiry team, which was established by the council,
concludes that the funding for residential and nursing care
“has not kept pace with the growth in the market resulting
from improved healthcare and subsequent changes in demography
including longer life expectancy”.

It warns that the “council may be priced out of the market
unless additional funds are available” to pay the fees
required to attract private capital investment in new homes, and
recommends that the inquiry findings be submitted to health
secretary John Reid.


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