Local authorities given two week ultimatum by care home owners

January 30, 2002 in Adults, Residential care

Private care home owners have given Scottish local authorities a
two-week deadline to agree the additional charges for residential
care or face a complete refusal by the sector to receive new
council-funded referrals, writes Reg
McKay.

The announcement followed the failure of tripartite talks last
week involving the Scottish executive, the Convention of Scottish
Local authorities and Scottish Care, the umbrella group
representing most of Scotland’s private residential and
nursing home owners.

While the groups have agreed to increase charges by £50 per
week as recommended by the expert group consisting of
representatives of all sectors, Cosla insists that it cannot meet
its 50 per cent share of £5 million per annum.

Joe Campbell, chief executive of Scottish Care, said that he and
his executive committee had faced growing demands for immediate
action from members. Campbell added: “We have been very patient
with the Scottish executive and Cosla. Now we are seeking agreement
by 11 February that the recommendations of the expert group will be
implemented on 1 April.”

Scottish Care said if the deadline is not met then new referrals
from local authorities will be refused, a strategy applied in a
small number of areas prior to negotiations. This time the private
care home-owners will roll out the strategy until it covers every
council in Scotland.

Campbell insisted: “Scottish care has the best interests of
older people at heart. We don’t want to be refusing care to
older people. Neither do we want to be placed in a position of
trying to meet their needs with inadequate funds.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Executive expressed
disappointment that Cosla had not been able to find the required
resources and added: “It is important for all concerned,
particularly the care home owners and those who receive care, to
understand that there is still time to achieve a clear
conclusion.”

Scottish Care’s executive committee will meet again on 13
February, two days after the expiry of the deadline.