June 2009
incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector
no.157 • £4.75 In association with
Inspectorate challenged by owners By Dominic Musgrave FRUSTRATED owners are challenging the Care Quality Commission to meet with them and explain some of their ‘bizarre’ inspection reports. Caring UK has been inundated with calls from operators since a story last month which told how one angry operator took legal action to overturn an ‘adequate’ rating on his home. Now operators are demanding more consistency from the CQC – and more explanation about how inspectors decide their star ratings which can cost homes thousands of pounds a year. Caring UK spoke to one owner whose home achieved exactly the same grades in the seven areas of inspection as another home down the road. And while John Corney’s Dorset home Thistlegate House only got an adequate rating, his rival was rated ‘good’. He said: “This shows that there is a clear flaw in the system.” And many have admitted they are now too scared of tackling the inspectorate, leaving them with no choice but to accept a damning inspection report. David Seal also contacted us after his Wirral home was only given an ‘adequate’ rating.
He said: “Inspections tend not to pay any attention at all to the quality of care being provided to the residents, and are more focussed on the fabric of the building and whether paperwork is up to date.” And Jenny Jobbins, who has run a home in Chippenham for 20 years added: “I would like to know what is going to change with the CQC – other than the name? “I am happy to receive constructive criticism, but there is no way that I am only providing ‘adequate’ care here. I want to know when they are going to listen to the views of the residents and their relatives.” A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission appeared reluctant to agree to a meeting with operators – brokered by Caring UK – to discuss their concerns, insisting there were ‘official lines’ they could go down. But editor Dominic Musgrave added: “As the leading magazine in the sector we have a right to ask the commission to meet with these operators to discuss their problems with them.” Would you like to discuss your problems with the inspectorate? If so let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net
Ministers pay back expenses
Prince William visited an Oxfordshire care home to surprise one of its residents. 109-year-old Catherine Masters’ dream was to meet a member of the royal family, and after trying unsuccessfully on numerous occasions to arrange something, it was finally sorted after Grange Care Centre senior nurse manager Wendy Mead wrote to local MP Ed Vaizey. She has also been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace on July 7.
CARE services minister Phil Hope has promised to pay back the £41,709 he claimed in taxpayer-funded expenses. The MP for Corby and East Northants’ took over the role from Ivan Lewis last year, and was one of many MPs who was hit with damaging revelations about their use of public money. His announcement is the largest single payment that any MP has agreed to pay back The Daily Telegraph unveiled in-depth details of the expenses on his second home in London. These included a bathroom, two bookcases, a coffee table, some saucepans and a barbecue. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, MP for South Cambridgeshire, was also caught up in the scandal, and promised to pay back £2,600 he claimed for renovation work at his country home. Caring UK contacted both MPs’ offices, but neither was available for comment.