Care homes response major step forward, says Which? UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 18 May 2005 - 13:00 PDT

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Which? welcomes today's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) response to the super-complaint on care homes as a major step forward for the rights of care home residents and their families.

The OFT has produced some clear and workable recommendations to address the problems the Which? super-complaint raised. In particular, the need for contracts and price lists. This is the kind of basic information that the sector should provide as standard.

The key points of the OFT's recommendations which the government needs to act on are:

-- The need for the publication of information about the care home and the posting of inspection reports

-- The requirement for clear and upfront information on contracts and to provide price lists

-- The making available of inspection reports to residents in advance of and during their stay

-- The provision for summaries of any substantiated complaints about any care home

This information will help care home residents and their families to make more informed choices on care homes and help ensure that care home providers understand and abide by their legal obligations.

Phil Evans, principal policy adviser, Which?, said:

"The ball is now firmly in the court of the Department of Health and the various care home regulatory bodies. Which? and the 28 specialist charities Which? made the super-complaint with, look forward to working with the Government to a firm timetable for implementing these recommendations."

http://www.which.co.uk

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