A lack of good quality care means some parts of the country have more than half of their care home beds in homes rated as requiring improvement or inadequate, according to a new investigation by consumer champion Which?. Which? analysis of Care Quality Commission (CQC) data shows that in six local authority areas, good […]
Systemic failure in the care home sector is leaving the majority of people with limited choice and half of people needing care having to wait for a bed, according to new research by Which?. The consumer champion found that almost half of people (48%) who had arranged care for themselves or a loved one said there weren’t any places in at […]
New Which? research reveals a postcode lottery for care funding, with local authorities in the south paying much more for long-term care compared to the north. We submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 180 local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and found huge variations in the standard weekly rate councils will contribute […]
A new Which? investigation exposes the confusing care system that is driving people to breaking point, with those not eligible for state funding often struggling to get basic advice. We asked 30 people across the UK to keep a diary as they tried to get advice and organise care for their partners, parents or themselves. […]
With an increasing demand for care services, a Which? investigation finds that over the last five years some local authorities have been restricting home care and increasing costs above inflation, leading to a widening postcode lottery in care costs. Using Freedom of Information requests over the last five years, we asked councils in England and […]
Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: “If done right, there are five Bills that could put consumers at the heart of the new Parliamentary agenda. Post-election reforms promise jam tomorrow but hard-pressed consumers are under increasing pressure from spiralling food and utility costs today. The Government must act now to give squeezed households a helping hand with […]
Could Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech set out the most consumer-friendly Parliamentary agenda in years? If it is, it won’t be a moment too soon. Our research paints a pessimistic picture of consumer sentiment, with the majority expecting the cost of living and their household budget to get even tighter than last year, squeezed by spiralling utility […]
Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which? said: “The current system of social care is complex, daunting and difficult to navigate, so it’s good to see the Government moving at last to end uncertainty about people’s eligibility for financial support. “Increasing the eligibility threshold to £123,000 will provide some much-needed financial help to many who are currently […]
New research by Which? has uncovered serious failings that are leaving family carers picking up the pieces of inadequate home care. Which? asked 40 family carers to keep a diary about their experience and that of their cared for relative. One daughter’s diary told of her mother having her face washed with a flannel with […]
Richard Lloyd, executive director, Which? said: “Successive governments have for too long ducked the crucial decisions on social care funding, while people continue to suffer unacceptable levels of care. The Health Secretary must now end the uncertainty and confusion people face about their future care provision and the costs they will face so that they can adequately prepare. “Today’s announcement of deferred payments does little to fill the […]