Councils ‘failing to meet care requests’

ELDERLY people are being denied personal care in their homes as councils struggle to recruit and pay carers.

Despite the SNP’s f l agship policy of free care, a study has found pensioners are facing long delays in getting help with washing, eating and drinking.

City of Edinburgh Council failed to supply a third of personal and nursing care required by the elderly in January, said agency Prestige Nursing + Care.

Its research found four out of eight councils which replied to a freedom of information request could not give such help when requested – a shortfall of up to 3,525 hours in a month.

With the cost totalling almost £9,000 a year per person, councils face a growing challenge to recruit carers, following an eight-year council tax freeze.

Charity Age Scotland said: ‘Some older people are indeed left waiting for care packages or given substandard provision.’

The research found Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, East Lothian and North Ayrshire councils failed to provide care to all who asked for it. In Edinburgh, 35 per cent of care hours requested were not provided in January, second only to Northampton of the 41 UK councils which responded.

Edinburgh City Council admitted i t was struggling, citing ‘increased need and reducing resources’.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: ‘We recognise more can be done to improve the quality of care provided.’