No safety net for thousands caught in care-homes crisis

THE Scottish Government is under increasing pressure to intervene over the Southern Cross care home crisis after it emerged that most local authorities have no emergency plans in place to deal with elderly residents if the firm collapses under its debts.

One local authority has drawn up draft contingency plans to send pensioners to their families or put them into hospitals if the care home firm goes bankrupt. But others, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, have yet to finalise their plans.

First Minister Alex Salmond was urged to host a summit on the "crisis in care" amid fears that the firm, which is Britain's biggest care home operator, is on the verge of going under.

Outgoing Labour leader Iain Gray said the voices of older and vulnerable people must be heard by parliament in light of the problems at the firm, which has 98 homes with an estimated 4,500 elderly residents across Scotland.

The party yesterday published details of the draft plan by West Lothian Council, which included contacting neighbouring councils for care home placements, and changing the use of 12 respite beds in West Lothian Care Homes used for short breaks from caring to residential beds.

It may also review dependency levels of residents in care homes and cease all purchasing including hospital discharges. It is also considering utilising hospital beds.

The details were obtained by Labour MSP and West Lothian councillor Neil Findlay.

West Lothian council leader Peter Johnston claimed that the information had "outrageously misrepresented the council" but admitted his council had yet to complete a contingency plan.

He said: "This is a complete misrepresentation of the truth. These are potential options and not recommended actions we were looking at.

"We shared them with councillor Neil Findlay to show him what progress was being made in drawing up a contingency plan.

We are completely committed to protecting and providing care for the vulnerable and elderly who may be caught up in this problem."

The Scotsman has also been told by the councils in Glasgow and Edinburgh that they also have not finalised their contingency plans while Fife Council refused to say whether it was fully prepared.Labour Scottish Parliament health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "This has been going on for months and Scottish ministers have just been sitting on the sidelines.

"We were told (SNP health secretary] Nicola Sturgeon was in daily contact about the crisis, but then we learn from a written answer that there were just two meetings with Scottish Government officials in March and April."

She went on: "This is a matter of great urgency, Southern Cross could go into administration well before September and we need contingency plans in place already and the Scottish Government to start showing the strong leadership required."

She also condemned West Lothian's plans as "inadequate".

Ms Baillie said: "The spectre of older people who have been assessed to be in need of round-the-clock care being turfed out of care homes is shocking.

"Keeping elderly residents in hospital when they do not require to be there will expose them to Hospital Acquired Infections. Denying carers respite is not fair."

Mr Salmond said the issue of Southern Cross was discussed at the last Cabinet meeting, rejecting the assertion it was an "emergency summit".

He added: "This is an issue that the Cabinet secretary is dealing with daily in conjunction with the UK health department in constant communication with all others involved in a serious issue. It's true Southern Cross is on the brink of administration."

He continued: "Cosla (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities], Scottish Care and the relevant local authorities are ready, if Southern Cross does move into administration, to make sure there's a continuity of care of the residents concerned."

Last night Cosla said it had yesterday sent out advice to the heads of social care at Scotland's 32 councils. A spokesman defended the slow progress in drawing up contingency plans, saying there was a danger of undermining Southern Cross.

Home protest

UNION leaders representing thousands of staff in Southern Cross care homes have staged a demonstration outside a meeting attended by private equity companies.

The GMB said the target of its protest in central London was Blackstone, which bought Southern Cross in 2004 before selling it later.

The protesters carried banners with slogans such as "Private Equity More Secret Than The Mafia".

General secretary Paul Kenny said: "These kings of private equity meet in secret. What further ravages are they planning for the British economy and British jobs? More is known about the Mafia than about the antics of private equity. It is time to shine a very bright light on their activities."