High cost of care

sir – Fraser Nelson (July 10) describes the “problem in the British care-home industry” as being a refusal to pay decent wages, and a dependence on casual and agency staff.

As the former manager of a charityrun care home, which contributes to the cost of care, I know that staff – who are selected for their essential qualities of respect, gentleness and empathy – are disgracefully poorly paid. However, this is not generally due to greed on the part of the owners of the home, but to the huge discrepancy between the actual cost of care and the maximum funding provided by our squeezed social services.

I hope that the coronavirus pandemic, and the recent recognition and appreciation of the value of care and NHS staff, will result in proper funding for those residents who are unable to fund themselves, so that staff can be properly paid.

Gillian Crick

Underriver, Kent