Wirral Council criticised as care home fee cut plan is approved

Apr 15 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

THE chief executive of Hoylake Cottage has launched a stinging attack on Wirral Council, accusing it of using elderly care home residents as “pawns in a game”.

Lin Cook’s comments were made during a cabinet meeting which saw councillors agree to cut fees paid to homes by 1.3% and axe an annual rise linked to inflation.

Care homes had threatened legal action over the cut, which they argued would force homes out of business and lead to hundreds of elderly residents being evicted.

Addressing councillors, Ms Cook said: “We appreciate that, in the current economic climate, difficult conditions and choices have to be made.

“A report by the Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA) said that one-third of residents moved to alternative accommodation die as a result of the move.

“Is this a passive attempt by social services to reduce the amount of people in our care homes?

“We do not believe that this has been part of a consultation process but a financial exercise.

“These are human beings, not pawns in a game and I urge you to find a solution elsewhere.”

Director of Adult Social Services John Webb said he was “very disappointed” at her comments.

The council had originally wanted to reduce fees by 5% but the proposal was amended after a huge outcry.

It said the contract would have seen an inflation rise of 4.7% at a time when the retail price index is just 0.01% and said elderly people wanted to remain in their own homes.

Sean Kirby, director of Tree Vale Ltd, which specialises in running care homes for people over 65 with dementia, told councillors: “We are very disappointed with the deteriorating relationship we have with Wirral Council.

“We are now in a partnership which is overshadowed by mistrust.”

Cabinet member for health and social care, Councillor Moira McLoughlin, said: “There are around 430 vacancies in homes and some are run with a third of their beds empty.

“We don’t underestimate the pressure businesses are under and these are fair proposals which show we have listened to the representations from care home owners.”

Council leader Steve Foulkes criticised campaigners for making what he called “wild accusations”.