The Care Quality Commission, the regulator for health and social care, set out very clearly what they expect from a good care home.
On 10 August 2017, a new report was published by Healthwatch, a consumer champion for the health and social care sector.
The report highlights the striking variation in care homes across the country. Healthwatch staff and volunteers across England visited 197 care homes in 63 different local authority areas to record the experiences of those living in care homes. Environment, activities, staffing and wider health needs were among the topics they asked residents. Despite largely positive feedback, Healthwatch visitors witnessed homes not getting the basics right. Even those providing excellent care failed to tick all the boxes. The report also highlights a widespread lack of access to GPs and dentists for care home residents and raised particular concerns regarding the suitability of some care homes for residents with Alzheimer's.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Sadly, I’m not at all surprised by these findings. They testify to the existing issues with staff training across the sector, and echo what our investigation last year found – that one in three home-care workers had received absolutely no dementia training, resulting in people with dementia left in soiled sheets, and becoming ill after eating out-of-date food.”
The report by Healthwatch comes four weeks after the Care Quality Commission, the agency responsible for regulating the care homes, revealed that one in four social care facilities were unsafe.
Imelda Redmond, national director of Healthwatch England, said:
“Care homes were grappling with rising demand and stretched resources”, but added, “ Getting the basics right doesn’t cost the earth and should be the least we should all be able to expect for our loved ones, and ourselves should we need care support.”
We welcome the report by Healthwatch England and hope to see further recommendations designed to help our older, vulnerable people, to gain access to appropriate care.
At Anthony Collins Solicitors, we believe in vulnerable people receiving the high-quality care and support they deserve. We represent clients who have suffered injury, or whose health has deteriorated due to the negligence of the healthcare professionals involved in their care and treatment. Claims can arise because of prescription errors, not taking steps to reduce the risk of falls, allowing pressure sores to develop, not providing adequate support with eating and drinking and other failings.
We have experience in securing compensation for many people who have received poor treatment in nursing, care and residential homes where standards have been unacceptable. We have also successfully pursued claims against local authorities, healthcare trusts and private care providers where the services provided by them were inadequate. When representing clients, we often seek compensation to fund private medical care and so that our clients can afford the best quality care in the future.
For more information regarding cases arising from abuse, please contact Stephanie Moustache or David Evison, who will be happy to speak with you on an initial free, no-obligation basis.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
The Court has confirmed that a party cannot withhold its consent in order to re-write the original bargain.
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