Stoke care home residents caught up in legal row with council

ELDERLY dementia sufferers face being caught up in a legal battle after their care home fees were slashed by a council.

Care home operator Majesticare is warning it will take legal action after refusing to sign a new funding contract drawn up by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Majesticare – which operates homes in Goldenhill and Church Lawton – claims the council is reducing money paid for specialist dementia care to a “totally unrealistic amount”.

In one case, an 86-year-old dementia sufferer has been told his £450-a-week council-funded care bill will not be paid by the authority beyond Friday.
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It means some families will have to find tens of thousands of pounds to pay for their loved-ones’ care.

Now the residents and their families are waiting to find out how the matter will be resolved.

The dispute comes as hundreds of residents in 10 homes run by Southern Cross Healthcare face an uncertain future after complaining about council funding cuts.

Majesticare residents have been informed of the council funding dispute by letter.

It says: “Unfortunately, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has decided to impose a new care home contract from April 1.

“This contract reduces the fee level which the council is willing to pay to a totally unrealistic amount.

“With the reduction of income and rising inflation, we will not be able to continue to offer a service to Stoke-on-Trent funded residents.

“There will be no assured income to pay for your relatives’ fees from April 1. We, and other care home operators, are asking for a judicial review.

“We are not clear what this action by the council will mean for your relative.”

Retired foundry worker George Welsby, aged 86, has been living at the 62-room Lawton Rise Care Home in Goldenhill since August, after suffering vascular dementia and a stroke.

His daughter, Shirley Machin, fears for her father’s health when the funding runs out.

The 52-year-old district nurse, of Longton, said: “These patients are old, infirm and have mental health problems.

“My dad has worked all his life and now his funding is being cut at the age of 86.”

Majesticare’s Lawton Manor Care Home, in Church Lawton, has 63 rooms.

Almost 900 people are funded by the city council to live in residential and nursing homes across the UK. Each resident is asked to make a means-tested contribution to their care. The remainder is paid by the council.

It is understood that new funding contracts have been drawn up because the Government now expects all residents to receive the same level of council fees.

Council officials today refused to disclose why Majesticare’s payments are being reduced.

Conservative and Independent Alliance councillor Hazel Lyth, cabinet member with responsibility for adult social care, said: “As far as I’m aware, Majesticare is the only home in dispute with the council. We shall do what we can to continue the service.”