Owners of care homes seeking increase

Care home operators are to issue a stern warning over what they say is under-resourcing in the sector as they meet for a conference.

Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, will tell around 450 delegates the sector is fragile and there is a “real threat” to its sustainability.

Dr Macaskill will set out the view of the representative body for the country’s independent social care services in a speech at the National Care Home Conference in Glasgow today.

He will tell the gathering: “Unfortunately many of these challenges are growing and becoming a real threat to the continuance of a sector which is critical to keeping Scotland healthy

“I cannot remember a period of such real threat”

and giving quality care to some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“I cannot remember a period of such real threat to the sustainability of the care home sector. Things are very fragile indeed.

“We cannot for long continue to under-resource the sector. We are in danger of creating a bargain basement care home sector trying to deliver high quality care on the cheap.”

Dr Macaskill will make his address as Scottish Care unveils a new report, entitled Care homes: Then, now and the uncertain future.

He will claim that nine out of 10 providers are struggling to recruit staff and call for an increase in social care funding from the Scottish Government of up to 8%.

A Scottish Government spokesman said the National Care Home Contract has seen year-on-year increases in the contract fee, amounting to 42% cumulatively.