Care homes investigation welcomed by UK Consumers' Association

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 30 Jun 2004 - 11:00 PDT

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The UK Consumers' Association (CA) today (29:06:04) welcomes the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) announcement that it is to investigate the care homes market. The announcement follows Consumers' Association's submission of an informal super-complaint in December 2004.

Phil Evans, Principal Policy Adviser, Consumers' Association, said:

"Consumers' Association is pleased that the OFT has kicked off their market study on care homes today. This study was triggered by an informal super-complaint by Consumers' Association in December 2004, working with 28 other charities, into the functioning of the care home market. The complaint focused on the relationship between care home providers and local authorities and consumer protection issues in the sector.

"Although it is good news that the OFT is taking its investigation of the overall market forward, it is disappointing that it is not going to pursue the issues surrounding local authority power, in particular cross-subsidisation.

"CA remains of the view that the use and misuse of power by some local authorities is a threat to the long-term viability of this sector and runs counter to the consumer interest. While the OFT will not be looking at this vital aspect of the issue, CA will seek others who will do so.

"CA looks forward to working with the OFT to make the lot of Britain's care home residents a better one."

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