News

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."