This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Offer of £80m on care home fees
18/02/2003
The Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish
Local Authorities (COSLA) announced today that they have
made an offer of almost £80 million to the independent care
home sector to support increases in care home fees.
The offer is aimed at implementing the Executive's and
COSLA's commitment to meet the recommendations of the
National Review Group, set up in September 2001 to look at
fee levels in the independent sector.
It will provide for a one per cent real terms increase a
year to the fees recommended by the expert review group. It
will also mean that since 2001 average fees in homes
without nursing care will have risen from £260 a week to
£346 in 2003 - up £86 or 33 per cent, or in homes with
nursing care from £336 to £406 - an increase of £70 or
nearly 21 per cent.
Today's proposals mean that since July 2001, more than
£130 million of additional public funding has been
provided/offered to the care home sector.
The offer has been accepted by the two principal
voluntary sector providers, the Church of Scotland and the
Salvation Army.
In a joint statement Deputy Health Minister Frank
McAveety and COSLA President Pat Watters said:
"We warmly welcome the decision by the Church of
Scotland and the Salvation Army to accept our joint offer
but are disappointed that all providers have not been able
to sign up at this time.
"This is a good deal offering a record increase for care
homes and reflects our commitment to stand by the
recommendations of the National Review Group and make an
offer above the rate of inflation to the independent care
sector.
"We hope that the private sector care home providers
recognise the substantial level of funding provided by the
Executive and local government to bring about a stable
future to the care home sector and a choice of good quality
care home services for Scotland's older people. We would
urge the private sector to fall into line with the other
care providers. "This offer is another example of local and
central government's commitment to Scotland's older people.
Taking it alongside the investment in free personal and
nursing care, we are offering unprecedented resources aimed
at ensuring our older people receive appropriate care,
dignity and security in old age."