London Care Home Crisis Turning To Meltdown - Hughes

11.59.22am GMT Thu 13th Nov 2003

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP will today (Thursday) quiz Health Ministers on their ability to stabilise the London nursing and residential care home sectors. Mr Hughes will highlight the National Audit Office report published earlier in the year that shows that in London, for every 100 residential and nursing beds, there are 102 people waiting for one.

In Cross Cutting Questions on Older People in the House of Commons, Simon Hughes will ask Ministers what steps they are taking to stop vulnerable older people being shipped outside of the capital because demand exceeds recommended supply in London by 12%.

Simon Hughes MP said:- "Ministers have had their heads in the sand for far too long. The loss of care homes in London has been unforeseen, unstructured, and unplanned. The victims are vulnerable elderly people forced to leave London sometimes for a home miles away from their friends and family."

"We are in real danger of Government inaction turning the crisis in the London care home sector, into a meltdown. The clock is ticking; unless the Chancellor acts decisively now and restores confidence in the care home sector, more homes will close their doors."

"The warning signs have been there for a long time. Low fee levels, high house prices, increases in care home costs, and poor long term planning have left the capital's care system in a state of freefall."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Cross Cutting Questions will be held in Westminster hall on Thursday 13th November 2003 at 2.30pm.

Simon Hughes MP will ask:"Given that according to the National Audit Office report 'Ensuring Effective Discharge of Older Patients from NHS Acute Hospitals' published in February of this year showed that in London demand is now 12% above recommended occupancy rates and that "a severe shortage of care homes in the capital means that London boroughs seek to place their clients outside the capital"

• what steps is the Minister taking to stabilise the residential and nursing home sectors in London and make sure that families do not have to travel miles out of the capital to see their frail, vulnerable and confused loved ones ?"

• The Liberal Democrats are calling for a 'Wanless Report for Social Care' along the same lines as the Wanless Report undertaken for the Chancellor on funding needed for the NHS.

• 'Ensuring Effective Discharge of Older Patients from NHS Acute Hospitals' (para 4.4 page 35) - http://www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/02-03/0203392.pdf

Richard Stokoe

Senior Liberal Democrat Press Officer for Simon Hughes MP Mayoral Campaign tel. 020 7227 1236 mobile 0772 08 38 351 fax 020 7227 1313 pager 07659 114613