VACANCY MONITORING REPORT

1ST APRIL 1997 - 31ST MARCH 1998

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF MAIN POINTS

1.1 This is the twelfth in a series of reports providing information on occupancy levels, admissions and vacancies in residential care homes and nursing homes. It contains information submitted by residential care homes and nursing homes. The latest collection covers the year between 1st April 1997 and 31st March 1998. Information on Nursing Homes only was collected in September 1997, where appropriate these figures have been combined with the following 6 month collection to aid comparison with the data on residential care homes. The September 1996 data was the first to be collected since local government reorganisation; where possible, data is also provided in new authority format for the previous two periods (30 September 1995 and 31st March 1996) to aid comparison. Due to a change in name, the authority formerly know as Western Isles appears in the report as Eilean Siar.

1.2 The vacancy monitoring scheme was established following the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 coming into operation in April 1993. The aim of the scheme is to assist The Scottish Office in monitoring the implementation of the Government’s policy of having a ‘mixed economy of care’.

1.3 Occupancy levels in residential care homes and nursing homes have fluctuated since the vacancy monitoring scheme began (Figure 1a). The number of occupied beds in nursing homes has increased over the period. In private residential care homes the number of occupied beds has also increased. There were decreases in the number of occupied beds in both local authority and voluntary residential care homes.

2.1 The number of occupied beds and the bed complement in local authority homes has fallen since March 1993. Over the last period the number of occupied beds has decreased at a greater rate than the bed complement, resulting in a drop in occupancy rate. The current occupancy rate of 89.3% is the lowest since the vacancy monitoring scheme began.(Table 2a, Figure 2a)

2.2 The occupancy rate in private residential care homes has remained relatively steady over the last 3 data collections. Both bed complement and the number of occupied beds are continuing to increase. (Table 2b, Figure 2b)

2.3 As with the previous period, the last year saw a fall in the occupancy rate in the voluntary sector. Both the bed complement and the number of occupied beds decreased over the period. The current occupancy rate of 88.5% is the lowest since the vacancy monitoring scheme began. (Table 2c, Figure 2c)

2.4 Following the general trend since the scheme began, the number of occupied beds and bed complement in nursing homes increased over the period. There has been a marked decrease in occupancy rates since the scheme began. Recent periods, however, show occupancy rates beginning to increase. (Table 2d, Figure 2d)

2.5 The occupancy rates in independent homes for each local authority are compared in Figure 2e. The rate in most new council areas lies between 80% and 95%. Only one area displayed a rate higher than 95% (Eilean Siar), with 4 areas having rates below 80% (Angus, Dundee City, East Dunbartonshire and South Ayrshire).