Why Is Elderly Care Like a Boiler?

9.02.07pm GMT Wed 16th Dec 2009

If you know your boiler is old and might break down any minute, you may well have tried to put away some money in the bank. Then, if things do go badly wrong, you can afford to get a replacement boiler put in straightaway.

Even with Mr Darling's boiler subsidy due in a few months, you would not want to go through the winter without hot water. Instead you would immediately use your savings for the purpose they were intended for.

"So why", asks Councillor David Rendel, "did the Tories refuse to use the 'Risk Fund' to cover the overspend on Elderly Care, when they were given the chance to do so at the Extraordinary meeting of West Berkshire Council last week? £500K out of the £600K sitting unused in the 'Risk Fund' was put there specifically because the Council knew there might be an overspend in that area".

But instead of using the 'Risk Fund' for its intended purpose, the Conservatives have preferred to leave elderly patients in hospital, 'bed-blocking', so that other patients who need the beds may not be allowed into hospital at all. Meanwhile yet another set of patients may be left without the home care for which they have been assessed as having a 'critical' need.

"It is simply outrageous," continued Mr Rendel, "that the Council refuses to spend the savings they deliberately put on one side, in case the costs of caring for the elderly rise more than was expected. I can only assume they think the chance of being re-elected depends on them cutting Council Tax next year. So they are prepared to give their chances of re-election priority over the Health and Well-being of local residents.