Director denies service faces crisis after woman dies

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.