Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Llyr Gruffydd MS has taken aim at the “unsustainable” underfunding of care homes in North Wales, and has warned that not funding care homes properly is a “false economy” which could lead to bed blocking in hospitals.

He highlighted the fact that care comes receive less funding from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for providing continuing health care than they receive from local authorities for caring for people who have less intensive care needs – with one care home in Conwy receiving £6,000 less per year for every single resident.

Mr Gruffydd challenged the Welsh Government’s Minister for Social Care, Dawn Bowden on the issue during a debate in the Senedd, has been contacted by a number of care comes across North Wales that are concerned about the way the sector is currently being funded.

Llŷr Gruffydd MSsaid  “A number of care homes across north Wales have contacted me recently raising concerns about the state of the sector's funding.

“Care homes receive less funding from Betsi Cadwaladr for the provision of continuing healthcare than they receive from local authorities for caring for individuals who have less intensive care needs; in Conwy, for example, it's £6,000 per annum less for every resident.

“Now, the health board has made the funding decision for the current year without consulting with the sector, although now, by the way, as a result of the angry response from the sector and intervention from politicians, it has agreed to a meeting to find a way forward.

“But can I ask whether you agree with me that not funding care homes properly is a false economy?

“That is to say that if these care homes refuse to take residents or close because of underfunding from the health board, then it's the health board itself that will then have to deal with the situation, with more hospital beds blocked, and it's they who will pay the price.

“So, what steps are the Government taking to resolve this unsustainable situation? What advice do you have for Betsi Cadwaladr in terms of paying fair fees to care homes to avoid a situation where the care system is deteriorating, which would cost far more to Betsi Cadwaladr in the long term?” 

In response Dawn Bowden said that it was up to local authorities to “determine” how they allocate funding and that the Welsh Government “can't tell local authorities how to spend their money”.