Councils still insisting on 15 minute homecare visits

UNISON has revealed today that 74% of local authorities in England are still limiting homecare visits for their elderly, ill and disabled residents to just 15 minutes. The report – Suffering Alone at Home – is based on an online survey of 1,100 homecare workers and data obtained from a Freedom of Information request (FoI) to the 152 local authorities in England that commission social care visits. Councils using 15 minute visits by English region Eastern 100% East Midlands 89% West Midlands 86% North East 83% North West 82% South East 79% Yorkshire and Humberside 73% South West 69% Greater London 45%   The UNISON survey findings mirror those of the FoI request to local councils. Three quarters (74%) of homecare workers who responded felt they did not have enough time to provide dignified care for the elderly and disabled people they visited. Worryingly says UNISON, 61% said visits of just a quarter of an hour meant they frequently had to rush the care of people who were over 90 years old. A similar report by UNISON in 2014 showed that the same proportion of councils (74%) were regularly using 15 minute visits. Given the harsh financial climate in which local authorities are operating, UNISON says it is not surprised that there has been no change in the numbers, and fears the situation will only get worse. UNISON is the trade union for homecare workers. Join us to help raise the voices of homecare workers and make the homecare sector the hu...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News homecare homecare workers save care now Source Type: news