These are the questions I prepared and asked at my meeting today at 9am.
1. Have you made any decisions yet regarding the future of older person's provision in Kent County Council?
2. When and how will they be announced?
3. As you make the decision is there congruence between your role as Cabinet Member for KCC and you, in your heart, as an individual human being?
4. Why was my proposal rejected before your decision has been announced?
5. Have you seen the report prepared by officers?
6. Is it finalised yet, if not when will it be?
7. Will any part of the report be restricted? If so to who and for what reasons?
8. How and when will it be available to the public?
9. Will staff have access to it at the same time as the public or at a different time?
10. Will managers be briefed before other staff and the public?
11. When & how do you intend to brief residents and their families, friends, advocates & carers?
12. Greg Clark asked you that research be done, as an important element of the consultation process, concerning the availability of suitable spaces in private/independent sector care homes for all permanent residents that may need to be moved - has this been done? If so what are the results and can I have a copy? If not, why not?
13. Are you aware that in October this year KCHA surveyed 450 homes regarding vacancies in the private/independent sector. Only 35 replied revealing 105 vacancies - the great majority of these in coastal towns in Kent?
14. Are you aware that Oliver Mills is meeting with Karen Cooper on 11th January, Kent Care Homes Association, to discuss contract prices and that he has already indicated that he will seek to negotiate a reduction in price for newly placed people who are funded through KCC - the contract with these homes?
15. Are you aware of the deep concern in the private/independent sector about this issue?
16. Homes rated excellent will have a majority of self funders and a waiting list (Mount Ephraim House in TW & High Hilden in Tonbridge for example). Homes that are not performing so well are more attracted to block contracts with KCC. Spot contracts allow KCC funded people to be placed in excellent homes but it is likely that family & friends will have to top up above the KCC ceiling. Do you agree that this can create a two-tier level of care - the more money you have the better care you can purchase?
17. Tell me what you understand the impact has been so far since the consultation was announced in June on the residents of the homes being considered?
18. The equality impact assessment I requested on my mother, Vera Waylor, was made several months into the process and Oliver Mills wrote to me to say this would be done after the decision was made. Why did no-one consider doing an interim assessment under your legal duty of care to examine any impacts on residents' physical & psychological health & well-being?
19. What evidence do you have that moving very elderly and frail people does not increase their risk of dying prematurely?
20. If you do decide to close homes and residents that have to move die prematurely as a consequence, how will you feel?
The legal process to save Bowles Lodge is over but the spirit of Bowles Lodge lives on!
- John Porter
- This blog is about a campaign I led to prevent Lancashire County Council closing the care home my Mum lived in. We lost our case in the High Court but decision-makers at local and national level were made aware of the devastating consequences of moving elderly people - no matter how carefully it is done. Mum was moved and, sadly, died eight months later. The blog is dedicated to her precious memory. Love you Mum.
This is Vera, my mum
This is Vera, my mum. "Why did Kent County Council move me out of Bowles Lodge?"
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