Is this the end of independent care homes?

Last year, the CQC (Care Quality Commission) abolished yearly inspections. This week, they have announced a new scheme in which homes will be assessed on staff training, staff turnover, daily activities and the general quality of care on offer. Well, great - anyone who has looked for a care home knows that this additional information will be vital in helping to make a choice of one care home over another.

However, it appears that each care home has to pay to be part of the scheme - a cost which some suggest could be beyond the already stretched budgets of small independent care homes.  Further, if a care home doesn't register, ministers have warned that the care home would lose any local council funding - a move which could easily mean bankruptcy for struggling care homes.

Whilst any move designed to improve standards in care homes and choice for potential residents is to be applauded, there could be a very real threat to small, independently run care homes who are already struggling to make ends meet, due to recent cuts.  There are over 2000 independent care providers in the UK - if many are forced to close, all we are left with are the big groups and the concept of "providing consumer choice" becomes laughable.

Mark Sadler