ELDERLY PERSONS HOMES PROPOSALS
Following on from the meeting held on 1st July the Scrutiny Commission will, in relation to the Elderly Persons Homes Proposals: -
· Continue to gather evidence from various sources, including other local authorities (Hampshire).
· Receive information from officers in response to questions raised at the 1st July meeting.
· Receive those residents of elderly persons homes/family members who have been invited to come forward and give evidence.
· Summarise and conclude the two meetings, formalising any recommendations/comments to the Executive.
Minutes:
The Scrutiny Commission were informed that Officers had responded to the questions asked at the Special meeting of the Scrutiny Commission held on 1st July 2013, and this report was circulated prior to the meeting.
Family members of residents of elderly persons’ homes were also present at the meeting and were given an opportunity to speak at the appropriate part of the meeting.
Members were informed that, following this meeting, a report would be prepared setting out the findings of the Scrutiny Commission to be fed into the consultation process. Following further discussion it was suggested, and agreed that, due to the complex nature of the information gathered from a wide range of sources that a further meeting of the Scrutiny Commission be arranged to finalise the full findings.
At this point the Scrutiny Commission gave detailed consideration to the responses prepared by officers to the questions asked at the last meeting and further questions were asked, summarised as follows: -
1. What are we going to do to ensure long term care of the elderly?
Members were informed that the predicted rise in aging population had been factored into predictions for elderly care up until 2030
Members were informed that contact had been made with Hampshire County Council around their partnership working and the provision of nursing care within their elderly persons care homes. Further information was awaited and would be fed into the Scrutiny Commission feedback report.
2. The cost of care for Leicester City Council now?
Members noted the comparisons of costs of In House Elderly persons Homes and the Independent provision and were informed that staff within City Council homes were paid at, or above the National Minimum Wage, whereas in the Independent Sector were more likely to be paid at the National Minimum Wage.
3. If numbers are falling, why is this? We need better data on this.
Members note the various reasons for the reduction of numbers and were informed that the City Council were not able to actively market their facilities and were only able to give potential residents a choice of what facilities were available across the City and it was then a matter of choice.
4. Will members of the Executive be visiting the city care homes?
Members of the Scrutiny Commission expressed a view that it was important for members of the Executive to re-visit care homes to gain an understanding of the feelings of residents/family members /staff.
5. Instead of the cost of 1 x 60 bed purpose built facility, what would be the cost of adapting 4 homes?
Members of the Scrutiny Commission considered in detail the information set out in the response by officers and the NHS around the issues relating to the provision of intermediate care in 4 units, alongside other short term care and permanent residents.
At this point in the meeting members of the public present were invited to address the Scrutiny Commission: -
i) Philip Parkinson – Interim Chair – Healthwatch Leicester ... view the full minutes text for item 24