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26/11/13
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December 2013
incorporating
no.211 • £4.75
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Survey warns of exodus by home owners By Dominic Musgrave MORE than a third of care home owners in Wales don't expect to be in business in five years' time. That's the stark warning from Care Forum Wales – which represents more than 500 independent care providers– following a survey conducted with members. According to the association, home owners are becoming increasingly fed up with the chronic underfunding of the sector and difficulties in recruiting staff because of the lack of funding which suppresses pay. This has led to almost 800 nursing home beds being closed in Wales over the past four years, with others currently in administration. Key findings of the survey included: 34 per cent of respondents expecting to quit over the next five years. 73.4 per cent having difficulty recruiting staff. Chair Mario Kreft MBE said if the predicted exodus materialises it would place an extra burden on the NHS, which is already creaking under the strain. He added: “Sadly it’s not surprising that people feel so despondent that they are really think of throwing in
the towel. “I think it particularly affects the smaller, community based homes often in rural areas that rely on the owners’ input. “Increasingly, I'm afraid, the sums just don't add up and nobody knows how these places are going to survive – everybody now knows that health boards are underfunding basic health board funded nursing care in Wales. “We are almost certainly going to see a major reduction in the number of available nursing beds unless something drastic is done to address the situation. Mario added that 60 per cent of those operators surveyed were also unhappy with the current inspection regime in Wales. “We are having significant numbers of members saying that they have a regulatory visit and they feel as though they’re demotivated, they feel as though the process is not a constructive one,” he said. “The regulator was in the past seen as a critical friend but typically the approach now is one of more subjective judgement and the issuing of reports on people's homes without the residents having the opportunity to review what is being said about what is after all their own home.”
Honorary Doctorate for group chairman
Television and radio broadcaster Gloria Hunniford was a guest judge at Anchor’s Strictly Dancing Final at West Hall care home in West Byfleet. Joined by hundreds of the group’s residents and employees, she watched as eight acts competed for the top prizes. After months of rehearsals and dance competitions, the winners were Jean Twyman and Craig Young from Orchard Court (Lingfield); Eric and Janice Stevens from Prospect Place (Epsom) and Faith Cordy and Fred Pinder from St Clements Court (Eastbourne). The competition aimed to promote the benefits of staying active in older age.
DR Chai Patel, chairman of HC-One Care Homes, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University. He has developed a close relationship with Sheffield since he spent time living in the city and working with a number of local charities and community groups for Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire in 2012. While taking part in the programme Chai donated over £100,000 to local community projects. He said: “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this degree, from such a dynamic and innovative University, in a beautiful city, with a great History. “I have been very fortunate to enjoy four different careers and I can honestly say working with some amazing charities here in Sheffield has provided me with some of the most inspirational and rewarding experiences.” His family foundation, the Bright Futures Trust, also announced a £10,000 donation to the Gleadless Valley Community Forum.