Clegg says relatives ought to act as care watchdogs

t.rowe@bepp.co.uk

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg met residents of a West care home yesterday and urged friends and families of all who live in care to act as vital watchdogs.

The ‘Big Society’ stance towards regulation came as the Liberal Democrat leader visited Taunton and Bristol ahead of the local elections and AV referendum on May 5.

Care service unions, including the Royal College of Nursing, have warned that major changes to the way care homes are inspected may lead to inspectors calling only once in three years, where previously they have been inspected twice a year.

At the same time the unions say the Commission For Social Care Inspection, which monitors care, is taking a more hands-off approach to complaints from the public, referring them back to care providers.

The visit coincides with the severe financial problems facing Southern Cross, Britain’s biggest provider of care homes, that are inevitably worrying people living in those homes.

Mr Clegg said: “Clearly any change to the inspection system needs to make sure that standards are maintained.

“The intention of this Government is to make sure that we keep the pressure on homes that aren’t providing the decency and dignity that people require.

“I think it’s very, very important that in addition to the formal inspection systems, that family members should speak up about the care that their parents or grandparents are receiving.

“That’s one of the best ways of ensuring that homes don’t let people down.

“It is something that local councils, MPs and the media can continually play a positive role in.”

Mr Clegg met dozens of residents of Calway House care home in Taunton and discussed pensions policy.

He told them that the coalition Government’s decision to link the retirement pension to earnings or inflation of 2.5 per cent for the first time since Mrs Thatcher decoupled the earnings link in the 1980s would boost their income.

He said: “If you retire today you will on average be £15,000 better off in retirement.”

He dismissed the personal attacks which supporters, including former Party leader Lord Ashdown, say have been heaped upon him by opponents of the proposed Alternative Vote system.

He said: “I think there has been far too much mud-slinging and a great deal of personal vitriol, which I think treats the public like fools,” he said.

“This is not about what the British public think of individual parties. It is a once in a generation opportunity to make things more accountable and democratic.

“The majority of MPs, two-thirds, represent constituencies where most people didn’t vote for them.”