Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is echoing the words of a family-run care home in Llandudno that is warning that new Budget measures will result in crippling extra staffing costs of £70,000, threatening the survival of care providers across Wales and exacerbating the NHS bed-blocking crisis.
Steffan Robbins, who runs the home with his wife and parents, condemned Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ policies as “discrimination against older people.”
The crisis is worsened by a north-south funding gap, with North Wales councils spending £10,000 less per care home resident than those in the south. Care Forum Wales reports Aberconwy care homes receive £10,432 less per resident each year than in Cardiff.
Commenting on the news Janet said:
“This is a disgrace and a complete oversight by the UK Labour Government. With a 1.2% rise in Employer National Insurance contributions, a reduction in the Secondary Threshold to £5,000, and a 5% increase in the Real Living Wage to £12.60 per hour, social care providers are facing an unsustainable financial burden.
“Care Forum Wales has warned that these changes create a £150 million funding gap across Wales, leaving many homes at risk of closure. In North Wales that amounts to a gap of £40 million.
“Orme View Residential Home currently cares for 14 residents and employs three full-time and 17 part-time staff. Staffing costs will soar from £320,000 to £390,000 next year due to the Budget changes, which is simply not sustainable.
"Sadly, this is just another example of the disparity between North and South Wales, £10,000 less per care home resident is absolutely disgraceful.
“Without urgent government intervention, care homes will be forced to close their doors, worsening the crisis in hospital delayed discharges.”
ENDS
