Residents in a number of UK care homes have failed to benefit from cheaper care bills, despite the G...
Residents in a number of UK care homes have failed to benefit from cheaper care bills, despite the Government's decision to provide free nursing care to all residents in October last year.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), some care homes have been increasing their fees following the introduction of free nursing care, so that residents are paying the same amount as before.
In response to these findings, the DOH is putting new measures in place to stop care home providers raising residents' fees unfairly.
New measures to be enforced include the provision of a thorough breakdown of all costs from care home providers so that residents understand what they are paying for. Any financial contribution from the NHS will also have to be recorded separately from contributions provided by other parties. Providers will be required to use a 'core contract', outlining how NHS contributions are being spent.
Health minister Jacqui Smith said: 'It has become clear that some care home providers have used the opportunity afforded by the introduction of free nursing care to increase rather than reduce the fees of residents.
'These new measures will ensure residents and their families receive comprehensive information about what their fees are paying for. It is also important the good practice that is being carried out in some care homes is spread across the whole country.'
However, the Independent Health-care Association (IHA) said NHS assessments for care costs have taken a long time to complete, meaning some payments from the Government for free nursing care have only been made in recent weeks.
Barry Hassell, chief executive of IHA, said: 'If care homes had reduced their fees on 1 October, they would have effectively subsidised the Government for five months. By transferring blame to care home owners, ministers are simply seeking to deny their responsibility for this confusing, complex and costly system.'
