This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for care home sector
19/11/2004
New investment of £94 million intended to increase the
level of care home fees and reward those who provide the
best quality care home services, was announced today.
But Health Minister Andy Kerr warned that in future he
would be looking for clear outcomes showing how the
investment has been used to improve services.
Mr Kerr said:
"Over £140 million has already been invested by the
Scottish Executive and local authorities to implement the
recommendations of the National Review Group.
"This funding has helped to bring renewed stability to
the care home sector and to the lives of some of Scotland's
most vulnerable older people.
"I am pleased to announce today further investment of
£94 million between now and 2008.
"This takes the total amount of additional funding for
the care home sector to £234 million, an average of over
£33 million per year since 2001.
"This substantial new investment will help local
authorities and care home providers to ensure that there
continues to be the right number of care home places
available to meet future needs.
"But I want to be sure that this public money is being
spent in the right way, to improve the quality of care
provided to Scotland's older people.
"In future we will be looking at ways to reward those
providing the best quality of care, as well as those who
show the greatest improvements.
"At the same time, we are working to establish what
level of capacity will be needed in the care home sector in
the future. We know the number of older people is
increasing.
"We also know more people are being cared for in their
own homes for longer. Our Range and Capacity Review is
looking at the services that may need to be provided for
their future care, and help us to ensure that older people
can access the care most appropriate for their needs."
The new funding amounts to £37 million in 2006-7 and £57
million in the year 2007-8. The money was allocated as part
of the Scottish Budget 2005-8. It is included in the local
authority allocations for community care originally
announced on September 30.