Standards in Wales to be toned down

Nearly one-third of the standards controlling the operation of care
homes in Wales could be relaxed after complaints from the
sector.

Nine of the 40 groups of standards governing homes for older people
containing three beds or fewer have already been rewritten by Welsh
health and social services minister Jane Hutt.

She wants to reduce the risk of homes closing because they cannot
afford to meet the standards.

Similar relaxations for five other groups of rules are likely to be
implemented later this year after further consultation.

The new regulations affect 190 homes, particularly in rural areas,
which account for about 5 per cent of the sector.

The April 2002 demand for the imposition of consistent standards in
homes which Hutt described as being “more akin to domestic
settings” sparked anger in Wales. Small care homes complained that
the changes were too expensive and were inappropriate in “family
settings”.

The changes will affect space requirements for shared facilities,
the need for additional toilets and bathrooms and standards on
fittings.