Going,Going,Gone !
Editorial By Eileen Chubb.
There has been a lot of fast exits recently, first there was Gerry Robinson saving dementia care homes. This two part series was a waste of time and achieved nothing. Mr Robinson comes at the problem from the angle that you can provide good care and make a profit but it soon becomes apparent that Mr Robinson is out of his depth. The care homes in part one of the series are given up on and in part two we are shown another care home. This home is shown what needs to change to provide good care but Mr Robinson fails to grasp that if one staff member takes a resident into the garden to paint the shed, the other twenty or so residents needing help will be left with one staff member to attend to all their needs, and that can not be done. The stark reality is that the official recommended staffing levels that homes comply with do not allow for decent care.
Mr Robinson was happy when treble the normal staff were on duty in these homes and decent care resulted, but that will not happen because of profit margins. This conflict was never dealt with and a picture of how easy it is to fix a home was the impression given. Than in the middle of filming before the home is “Fixed” it is inspected by CQC and is awarded a higher star rating, Mr Robinson is shocked at this! The programme ends with the homes closure and Mr Robinson walks away.
Baroness Young has also gone because the few inspections carried out by the new CQC turned out to be flawed to the extent the were a danger to public safety.
The Writer Martin Amis told the Sunday Times recently that he thinks there should be Euthanasia booths on street corners, well we already have them, the Hospitals and care homes from hell.
Finally Sir Michael Parkinson goes as dignity Guardian, You can be an excellent carer or the worst kind of abuser and still be a dignity guardian as just like in the care system no distinction is made between the good or the bad.
I have worked with the worst kind of abusers and know they would not hesitate to sign up to such a scheme as it provides cover. Sir Michael has been given a sticking plaster to fix a care system where there is no accountability and which is beyond the law. I have noted that many of the companies and care homes who have signed up to be a Dignity Guardian have continued to have elderly people abused or die for the want of care.
March 29th, 2010 at 8:39 am
The European Commission has issued details of an initiative on the treatment and care of neurodegenerative diseases, which a lot of care home residents suffer from, some no doubt from years of ill treatment in care homes. It may seem an oblique approach to the matter but, as the Managing Director of my local social services has forbidden any of his staff to contact me because I asked for my care home resident sister to be assessed, I’m inclined to think that any attempt to deal with the failings of the care system within this country are doomed to failure so that the only alternative left is to refer the matter, by whatever means, to the European Commission. Do you think there is any mileage in this?
Thanking you for your unique contribution to the solution of this problem,
Stephen Shires