Camden New Journal - News: 'Elderly care must stay in

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 26 April 2007

‘Elderly care must stay in-house’ plea

CARE for Camden’s elderly should not be privatised despite council figures showing that contract carers could save tax-payers millions, Labour’s top councillor has said.
Labour has backed council plans to build two new care homes for the elderly with the £26 million proceeds of the sale of existing homes in Hampstead, Tufnell Park and Kentish Town.
But Councillor Anna Stewart has said that the council should rule out proposals to contract out care of the elderly in the new homes to not-for-profit operators, despite Town Hall figures showing a potential annual saving of more than £2.5 million.
Figures produced for a borough-wide consultation on the scheme show that the Town Hall pays an average of £590 a week for a private-care place, while council-run places cost £866 a week on average.
Challenging the figures, Cllr Stewart told the housing and adult social care scrutiny committee last week that there was no guarantee private contractors could continue to provide a good service at lower rates in a volatile market.
She added: “I am keen that we retain the service in-house.”
Councillor Martin Davies, Conservative chief of the council’s adult social care department, which is pushing through the plans, stressed that outside provision of care was just one option being considered.
The consultation into the plans will end on May 4.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: