News

The number of private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics has fallen once again, continuing the downward trend since 1998, according to government statistics.

On 31 March 2001 there were about 5,700 private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics, a fall of 3 per cent compared with 31 March 2000. The number of general nursing homes fell by 4 per cent and the number of nursing homes for people with mental health problems fell by 3 per cent.

There were 186,800 registered beds, a fall of 3 per cent from 2000 and 5 per cent lower than in 1996-7. At least four-fifths of occupied beds were for people aged 65 and over.

Figures also showed that councils were providing more intensive home care services but to a smaller number of service users. An estimated 2.88 million contact hours were provided to 395,500 clients in 381,200 households. This represents a 3 per cent increase in contact hours but a 4 per cent fall in the number of households receiving home care compared with 2000.

Help the Aged said that the lack of funding in social care means that thousands of older people cannot access care at home or in residential care. It called on the government to increase social care funding.

Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for older people, said that the figures are further proof that the care home sector will move from "crisis to meltdown" unless urgent action is taken now.

- Community Care Statistics 2001: Private Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Clinics is available from www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0209.htm