Minister warns care homes not to break law

Care homes which refuse council-funded residents could be
breaking the law, community care minister Stephen Ladyman has
warned, writes Natasha Salari.

He condemned some care providers for trying to set up a system
where residents funded by the council are refused places in an
attempt to raise care home fees.

Speaking at a conference in central London on the regulatory
environment for care homes, he said: “We are aware that some
providers are trying to establish local cartels which, by
threatening to refuse to take any more local authority funded
residents, attempt to force local authorities to increase the level
of fees they pay to care homes.

“Such activities will only serve to cause older people and
their families unnecessary worry and anxiety, and will get no
support from the government. Forming cartels may well break the
law, and I expect the law to be enforced if this is happening,” he
said.

“Central government has provided the resources to local
councils to raise fees locally if this is what is necessary to
stabilise the local care sector. The way to make this happen is by
effective collaboration between providers and commissioners and by
listening to what people want.”

More from Community Care

Comments are closed.