Government to address concerns on ‘diluted’ care home rules

The government will address concerns regarding the proposed removal of three existing care home regulations from the Health and Social Care Act 2008, following a House of Lords debate.

The debate was held after care campaigners, the Relatives and Residents Association, raised concerns that providers would no longer have to inform residents about their complaints procedure, offer a choice of food, or have an emergency plan in place.

The omission of these rules is part of planned changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which will see a new set of ‘fundamental standards’ for adult social care providers take effect from next April.

The association’s concerns will now be addressed in the government’s new proposals and will be brought to the attention of the Care Quality Commission, who are due to issue guidance on how care homes can meet the new standards.

Lord Howe, parliamentary under-secretary of state for health, said in the debate: “If noble Lords are in any doubt or have anxiety after this debate and after what I have said, I assure them that I would be happy to feed in the concerns which have been raised this evening in the context of the guidance that is now in preparation.”

Jude Downey, chair of the Relatives and Residents Association, said: “This debate was very important on a number of levels, not least because it means that our concerns have been acknowledged as a matter of record. It’s also of great value to know that the points we raised will be ‘officially’ passed on to the regulator so that they can ensure that they are incorporated into the forthcoming CQC guidance.”