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Unfair care home fees could lead to closures - claim Unfair care home fees could lead to closures - claim
(about 3 hours later)
Fees for Orme View care home, Llandudno, and others in Conwy county have increased this year by more than those in neighbouring DenbighshireFees for Orme View care home, Llandudno, and others in Conwy county have increased this year by more than those in neighbouring Denbighshire
All local authorities in Wales should pay the same for care home places, the organisation that represents the sector has said.All local authorities in Wales should pay the same for care home places, the organisation that represents the sector has said.
The amount is set by councils and Care Forum Wales said there was a huge difference between counties, creating a "postcode lottery".The amount is set by councils and Care Forum Wales said there was a huge difference between counties, creating a "postcode lottery".
Homes in two neighbouring counties are currently seeing a £70 difference in weekly charges for basic care with owners saying it could lead to more closures.Homes in two neighbouring counties are currently seeing a £70 difference in weekly charges for basic care with owners saying it could lead to more closures.
The Welsh government said its new National Office for Care and Support was considering how "to bring about consistency" but fees would differ due to "factors like land values for care homes".The Welsh government said its new National Office for Care and Support was considering how "to bring about consistency" but fees would differ due to "factors like land values for care homes".
Orme View care home in Llandudno, Conwy county, has seen its fees go up this year, along with every other home in the county.Orme View care home in Llandudno, Conwy county, has seen its fees go up this year, along with every other home in the county.
That is because the county council has broken away from a system whereby all the councils in north Wales agreed to set their fees together.That is because the county council has broken away from a system whereby all the councils in north Wales agreed to set their fees together.
It is now setting fees based on what an independent assessor said should be paid, which were a lot higher than they had been.It is now setting fees based on what an independent assessor said should be paid, which were a lot higher than they had been.
The new system was adopted in April, and Steffan Robbins from Orme View said the increase has made a difference.The new system was adopted in April, and Steffan Robbins from Orme View said the increase has made a difference.
"It's an amazing, positive step forward," he told the Politics Wales programme."It's an amazing, positive step forward," he told the Politics Wales programme.
"Conwy have taken that step to really assess the true cost of care and make sure they deliver a fee that's affordable to them, but also a fee that reflects the true costs that we're seeing in the sector.""Conwy have taken that step to really assess the true cost of care and make sure they deliver a fee that's affordable to them, but also a fee that reflects the true costs that we're seeing in the sector."
Bethan Mascarenhas, who run the Old Vicarage, says she is forced to charge top up fees to make ends meetBethan Mascarenhas, who run the Old Vicarage, says she is forced to charge top up fees to make ends meet
The Old Vicarage in Llangollen, Denbighshire, is getting thousands of pounds a year per resident less than Orme View in Llandudno because it depends on the fees set by its own council.The Old Vicarage in Llangollen, Denbighshire, is getting thousands of pounds a year per resident less than Orme View in Llandudno because it depends on the fees set by its own council.
Although it has had an increase this year, it is a lot less than care homes in Conwy county.Although it has had an increase this year, it is a lot less than care homes in Conwy county.
The fees for the most basic care in Conwy county are £846 a week, but in Denbighshire they are only £774.The fees for the most basic care in Conwy county are £846 a week, but in Denbighshire they are only £774.
Bethan Mascarenhas, who run the Old Vicarage, said the difference means she has to charge residents top-up fees to make ends meet.Bethan Mascarenhas, who run the Old Vicarage, said the difference means she has to charge residents top-up fees to make ends meet.
"It's very disappointing," she said."It's very disappointing," she said.
"As somebody who's very invested in the work that they do, we really strive to give the absolute best level of care and that could look like great food, good drink, good activities, things that are meaningful to us."As somebody who's very invested in the work that they do, we really strive to give the absolute best level of care and that could look like great food, good drink, good activities, things that are meaningful to us.
"Unfortunately, the divide between the fees will make that difference in what you can provide.""Unfortunately, the divide between the fees will make that difference in what you can provide."
'Challenging financial constraints''Challenging financial constraints'
Care Home Wales, the umbrella organisation for Welsh care homes, said the system was undermining homes in areas where the fees are not as high as they should be, and the inequality should come to an end.Care Home Wales, the umbrella organisation for Welsh care homes, said the system was undermining homes in areas where the fees are not as high as they should be, and the inequality should come to an end.
Chairman Mario Kreft said the new National Office for Care and Support "needs to ensure we have parity across Wales, that there is at least an understood basic level of funding across all local authorities and the health boards".Chairman Mario Kreft said the new National Office for Care and Support "needs to ensure we have parity across Wales, that there is at least an understood basic level of funding across all local authorities and the health boards".
"We've got to move away from a postcode lottery," he said."We've got to move away from a postcode lottery," he said.
In response, Denbighshire council said: "We have worked hard to strike the delicate balance between navigating challenging financial constraints and ensuring that we are maintaining a sustainable future for the care sector in the county."In response, Denbighshire council said: "We have worked hard to strike the delicate balance between navigating challenging financial constraints and ensuring that we are maintaining a sustainable future for the care sector in the county."
It went on to say it has had "no evidence presented to suggest that different local authority fee rates is affecting the solvency of care homes in the county".It went on to say it has had "no evidence presented to suggest that different local authority fee rates is affecting the solvency of care homes in the county".
The Welsh government said the National Office for Care and Support was exploring the "feasibility of putting in place national fee methodologies to bring about consistency".The Welsh government said the National Office for Care and Support was exploring the "feasibility of putting in place national fee methodologies to bring about consistency".
"This does not mean however that there will be one national fee rate across Wales," it said."This does not mean however that there will be one national fee rate across Wales," it said.
"Fee rates will differ due to local factors like land values for care homes.""Fee rates will differ due to local factors like land values for care homes."
Politics Wales is on BBC One Wales at 10:00 BST on Sunday. Watch BBC Politics Wales on iPlayer after broadcast on BBC One Wales at 10:00 BST on Sunday