Public funds pay for more than half of care home beds

Payment for residents in 26,500 occupied care home beds for the elderly in the North West comes in full or in part from public funds.

That is 62.5% of the total number of occupied care beds in the region according to figures from industry experts.

Payment for the remaining 37.5% of occupied care home beds for the elderly are funded by the residents themselves or by their families.

The data is contained in a new report produced by workers union GMB. The report is published by GMB in advance of the imminent publication by Government of a Green Paper to be called Care and Support which will set out the government proposals on how to reform social care provision in England.

Sharon Holder GMB National Officer said: "The Welfare State was designed as a cradle to grave service - until the Thatcher government redesigned it as a cradle to care home service. This is grossly unfair as only 1 in 20 elderly people end their days in care homes.

"It is a complete lottery as to which one in every 20 end up in care and being asked to pay for their care. As these figures show over half already receive support to pay for care, so it would not be a radical step to introduce a universal coverage like that of the NHS for the care service. Collective insurance is the only fair way of meeting these costs as is already the case in Scotland.

"There is not room to cut corners on this. The staff in care homes need to be properly qualified, trained, rewarded and resourced to look after those who are our mothers and fathers in their declining years when they really need us. The system we have at the moment does not deliver for the elderly or the staff.

"GMB would like to see a proper debate on this matter in the UK. GMB will be lobbying council social services committees and government ministers in all four jurisdictions to promote GMB policy and secure a fair deal for residents and GMB care home staff."