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Issued 10th May 2002

POSITIVE CLIMATE IN NURSING HOMES' CRISIS TALKS
WITH WELSH ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

Welsh nursing home leaders say they have held what they describe as 'a very positive meeting' with Welsh Assembly members to discuss the massive financial problems facing the residential care sector.

A significant degree of cross-party concern was displayed about inadequate fee levels for publicly funded nursing and care home residents and about the potential impact of further closures on the capacity of the whole system to meet the needs of older people throughout Wales.

The meeting, hosted at the Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff by Plaid Cymru health spokesman Dai Lloyd, was attended by as many as a third of all Assembly members, reflecting a very strong degree of interest in the outcome of the current crisis. Jane Hutt, the Minister for Health and Social Services, was one of those present.

Representing the care sector were Rosemary Strange, UK chairman of the Registered Nursing Home Association; Anthony Ramsey-Williams, chairman of the RNHA in Wales; Emlyn Davies, RNHA director in Wales; Gordon Cole, an adviser to Care Forum Wales; and Michael Slater, a home owner from Rhondda.

Commented Anthony Ramsey-Williams: "We recognise the assistance provided by the Assembly this year with increased grants to local authorities for elderly care. However, we explained to Assembly members that we were bitterly disappointed with the response of the local authorities themselves, who chose not to match the additional funds they received with any further contributions from their own budgets."

He added: "We believe that Assembly members recognise the pressure that independent sector is under at the moment. We were encouraged by Jane Hutt's comments. She was hopeful that the recent Chancellor's budget would bring benefits."

Plaid Cymru representative, Dafyd Wigley, asked for Assembly Members to be circulated with as much information as possible about the problems being faced by nursing homes across Wales. Conservative member Alun Cairns also called for further details.

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For further information please contact:

Anthony Ramsey-Williams, chairman of the RNHA in Wales
Tel: 01792 235325 or 01792 234997