Publicly run homes look ‘more likely’
NATIONALISATION of care homes has been brought closer by the Government’s disastrous handling of the coronavirus pandemic, care workers’ union Unison has said.
Pressure is mounting for major reform to save the mainly privately run sector from collapse.
Thousands of elderly and frail residents are at risk of losing their homes as increased costs during the pandemic has pushed many providers close to going bust.
Unison accused Boris Johnson of “adding insult to injury” with his “clumsy attempt to pass the buck” on the high level of Covid-19 deaths in homes last week.
Already in trouble before the pandemic hit, the Prime Minster had promised to “fix the crisis” within 100 days of the election. That deadline passed in mid-march.
Unison assistant general secretary Christina Mcanea said: “If there’s a positive from this tragedy it’s that change is now unstoppable.
“Confusing Government guidance left care homes exposed – with catastrophic results.” The union backs nationalisation, which would mean bringing most of the UK’S 27,000 homes into a National Care Service or part of the NHS.
The move is backed by Tory peer Ros Altmann, who told the Sunday People: “Nationalisation would be a stabilisation of the sector’s finances. It would make the financial position sustainable over the long-term.”
Thirty years ago almost half the beds in residential homes were operated or owned by the NHS or local authorities. Latest figures show just 31,000 of 500,000 beds are now owned by local authorities.
It is thought 1,500 properties are threatened by closure after years of mounting debts, made worse by Covid-19 due to bills for PPE, expensive agency staff and empty beds. Many owners are big finance companies based in tax havens.
Baroness Altmann said: “I do not believe it is acceptable for care home operators to be based offshore and to be able to load up providers with debt in places where people are relying on care and for their very lives.”
Ms Mcanea added: “Starved of cash, councils had to source care at bargain basement prices. That’s meant poverty wages and a constant turnover of staff.
“The UK needs a care system that’s free at the point of need.”