Janet Finch-Saunders, Shadow Welsh Minister for Social Care, has championed North Wales care homes in the Senedd after discovering that they have only now being told how much they will be paid by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for the care given to clients during the last financial year.
After making a statement on the matter in the Assembly, and writing to Vaughan Gething AM, Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services, to ask why the fees are being set after the year has ended, Janet said:
“Like any business, care homes have to carefully manage their accounts so to pay staff, maintain their facilities, and invest in high quality care.
“However, many across North Wales have been left by Betsi to care for clients throughout 2018/19 without any clarity on how much they will be paid.
“It is almost impossible to successfully manage a business with such financial uncertainty, especially when around 50% of a care home’s residents are on continuing healthcare (CHC) fees.
“This payment practice is harming the care sector which does so much to relieve pressure on hospitals.
“I have sought an explanation from the Welsh Government as to why the payments are so late, and assurances that the same situation will not occur this financial year.
“To be clear, ensuring that there is clarity with fees and that payments are made in time, is only the tip pf the iceberg. I am also working to review how the CHC fees are actually set, a step which I believe to be essential to help tackling the care home crisis”.
