Issue 166 15.11.23
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Tackle social care to end bed blocking THE Government must tackle the crisis in social care to end the painful rise in delayed hospital discharges, campaigners have said. Figures have shown that every day more than 13,000 people are unable to leave hospital, partly because there isn’t enough care to look after them in the community. The Independent Care Group said the need for reform to help tackle those delayed discharge figures was well overdue. Chair Mike Padgham said: “The scandal of people being trapped in hospital beds is again laid bare and it shames the country. “We’ve been here before and these figures once again make very depressing reading. “A huge reason for this is a lack of available care in the community due to the ongoing crisis in social care, which government after government have failed to tackle. “There is a dreadful social impact of people being in hospital when they don’t need to be as well as a huge financial impact of people being in costly hospital beds when they should be cared for at home or in residential or nursing care.” The information comes from the BBC’s Shared Data Unit. The ICG says extra funding is vital for social care to stem the
rising tide of provider closure and tackle the staffing crisis, both of which are reducing care provision. “Switching funding from the NHS into social care will actually save the NHS money by tackling this delayed discharge scandal,” Mike added. “We have to find a way to properly fund social care so that its staff can be properly rewarded and we can stop the tide of carers leaving the sector and tackle the severe staffing shortages. “Unless we do so, homecare provision will continue to fall and care and nursing homes will continue to close. “That shortage of care provision will continue to rise, fueling more and more delayed discharges.” n CSI Market Intelligence reports that more than 1,300 care beds have gone in the first part of 2023 – with the number of beds per 1,000 people aged 75 and over falling from 91 in 2015 to just 75 now. Some 247 homes closed during 2022 and just 123 new ones opened, giving a net loss of 124 homes. The number of care home beds stood at 488,518 at the beginning of January 2022 but by the end of the year, this had fallen to 487,485 – a loss of 1,033 care home beds.
Martin Jones MBE, Home Instead’s CEO UK & International, had a royal appointment recently when he attended his investiture with HRH The Princess Royal to collect his Member of the Order of the British Empire at Windsor Castle. Martin was made an MBE in this year’s New Year Honours for service to older people. He said: “It was a real honour to collect my award from The Princess Royal and wonderful to be able to share the day with my wife Deborah and sons Ethan and Matthew. Martin is chair of the Homecare Association, chair of The Care Workers’ Charity and a member of the Age UK Board. He is also chair of Home Instead Charities UK, part of Home Instead’s charitable endeavours.
Home marks milestone birthday CHARTWELL Manor, a Maria Mallaband Care Group home in Aylesbury, celebrated its first anniversary by hosting a birthday celebration with the local community and Mayor, Councillor Steven Lambert. The 61-bed care home went all out to celebrate the milestone with an abundance of decorations, balloons and banners, and an anniversary party. Home manager Hazel Greenway said: “Over the past year the team has watched those living with us grow and become family. “It has been amazing to see all that we have achieved in such a short space of time
and we cannot wait to see what the future holds. “The Aylesbury community has become an extension of our home, with many of them being very familiar with what we do and attending a number of events we have hosted over the past 12 months. “This community, our incredible team and the people living with us make this the great home it is.” The event saw those living in the home gather with their relatives, community members and staff to enjoy a spread made by the executive chef, live music from two local performers and entertainment.
Tickets to this year’s Caring UK Awards at the Athena, Leicester on December 7 are now available. For more information and to book visit https://script-events.co.uk/cuk-awards-tickets/
Book a demonstration today by calling 01925 386800 or visit www.carebeans.co.uk