Spotlight on two EC frail care centres
SOCIAL development will today discuss a health audit it did for 217 residents at the only two fully statefunded frail care centres in the province.
Last year the department did not renew its contract with Eastern Cape Frail Care, a company in the Life Healthcare Group operating Algoa and Lorraine Frail Care Centres in Port Elizabeth.
The plan was to move the patients, 239 at the time, to the care of nonprofit organisations or non-governmental organisations.
But none of the organisations approached was willing to take the patients at the rate the department offered.
After a second round of advertising, the organisations willing to take patients for the subsidy offered by the department fell short of the frail care facility requirements.
In December last year and again in May a Port Elizabeth High Court judge issued an order to compel the department to keep the contract with Eastern Cape Frail Care going until a judge and an advocate appointed to represent the residents signed off on an acceptable plan to move patients.
During the court case the former director-general of the department, Advocate Stanley Khanyile, said they believed 38 patients at the two facilities should be transferred to facilities for disabled people as they were not frail, while 43 elderly patients could be accommodated at homes for the aged.
Social development spokesman Mzukisi Solani said the health audit meeting was being held to create short-, medium- and long-term plans for the elderly patients.
Algoa Bay Council for the Aged CEO Maureen Andreka said there were patients waiting to be admitted to the two centres.
Solani said the search for a service provider to take over state-funded frail care had so far been fruitless.
“Initial negotiations broke down as parties disagreed on tariffs. However, the department has resuscitated the negotiations and several meetings have taken place with Eastern Cape Frail Care and it is hoped that a reasonable and affordable rate will be mutually agreed upon.”