Posted on Tuesday 7th September 2021
The care home market in Staffordshire will be reviewed to ensure it can continue to offer quality care, value for money and timely access to care in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A paper to Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet outlines the important role care homes have played throughout the pandemic, and the impact it has had on the care home market.
These include a reduction in the number of beds being used, increased operating costs due to enhanced cleaning and infection control, and the reduction in some care home capacity due to social distancing requirements.
The county council will strengthen its quality improvement work, ensure costs represent the best value for money, improve the way it buys care home placements, and explore future options.
A previous proposal to refurbish Hillfield House will also not be progressed, as the new requirements for infection control mean the proposals no longer represent good value for money.
Dr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Integrated Care said:
“Covid-19 has had a profound impact on our care homes, all of which have been on the front line of the pandemic, caring for elderly and vulnerable residents. The way they have coped with the new rules and regulations because of this has been tremendous.
“Reviewing our approach to the care home market in the wake of Covid-19, and ensuring we can continue to offer good-quality, affordable care that meets people’s assessed needs is very important to us. We need the care home sector to be sustainable so that people can access good quality affordable care when they need it.
“The past 18 months have been a very challenging time for care homes, who have played a crucial role in keeping people safe throughout the pandemic. It is now important that we look ahead and plan for services that are fit for the future.”