News

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

Gloucestershire council’s executive director of social services denied there was a crisis in residential care for older people during evidence to a public inquiry into the case of an 88-year-old woman who died when she was moved from her nursing home.

Margaret Sheather told the inquiry a significant amount of work had gone into making sure there was no crisis in the sector, despite an estimated shortfall of £1 billion in government funding nationally.

Sheather said that, although there was a policy of enabling older people to live and receive services in their own homes, the council was committed to keeping the same number of care home beds for the next three years. 

The inquiry was called following the death of Violet Townsend in February, five days after she was transferred, against her doctor’s and family’s wishes, from Magdalen House care home in Gloucester because of a wrangle over funding.

It is hoped the inquiry’s findings will lead to a national review of residential care for older people.