Politics
Council announces multi million investment programme in care homes for vulnerable people
Posted on: 24 February 2012
“Today we are removing a lot of uncertainty that has been hanging over our care homes for far too long,” said Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for social care.
Councillor Stuart Barker and fellow Members of the Council’s Cabinet this morning unveiled plans to invest over £10 million over three years in its residential care homes for older people.
The budget, to be agreed by the Council’s Full Council next week, will include £3.8 million this coming year.
“What started under the control of the Council’s previous administration”, said Cllr Barker, “was a move to transfer the Council’s residential homes to the private sector, to invest and improve the condition of buildings. Those attempts failed, and even more recent efforts to gain interest from the independent sector have come to nothing due to the current economic climate.
“During this time, residents and their families, and staff at the homes, have faced uncertainty about their futures and that of the homes they are living in.
“Today we are announcing our intention to put all that behind us, and to invest significantly in our residential homes, making them brighter, more airy and modern.
“We also want our homes to be be more responsive to local demand, and to be able to meet more specialised care needs in future. We know for example that there is a shortfall in Devon for residential care for people with dementia, and our longer term aim is to help meet that growing need.”
Specific proposals for how the investment will be spent will follow in coming months, but first today’s budget announcements need to be approved by the Council’s Full Council when it meets at County Hall on Thursday 16 February.
I welcome this action.
I have worked in the NHS & private sector as a State Registerd Nurse over the past 30+ years. I have experienced & witnessed the insecurities associated when uncertainty & indecision relating to care provision exist.
Clearly this has to be of some comfort for patients, relatives & care providers.
It is reassuring that the future real need is recognised by the Council.
We have a real opportunity to build a secure foundation of care in Devon.