News-papers are full of horror stories about lack of investment in social care, resulting in mass desertion of valuable staffs who are quitting industry in droves, as working conditions are Victorian, pay minimum that would barely cover basic cost of living, especially in London where accommodation costs a small fortune.
No wonder these hard-working people live in overcrowded condition, sharing three bedroom house between two to three families, as rent for such houses in London is in the region of £2000 per month, plus utility charges, no single family living on their own could afford! Many such care workers have two to three jobs, working all godsend hours, just to stay afloat!
Yet care-homes are closing down in droves. There is waiting list of six months for some-one to move in care-home, except at upper-end where it costs up to £1500 a week, hardly anyone can afford it. Yet such care homes, which would put 5* hotels to shame are doing well with no shortage of clients who are obliged to pay with help from family members, in view of unavailability at other end where weekly charges vary from £700 upward.
Blocking unskilled immigration from EU after Brexit, along with cuts in government funding and ever-rising old age population will create unprecedented crisis in care industry, putting lives at risk, as fewer care workers are looking after ever increasing elderly people, resulting in lowering care standard, neglect, bullying and indifference.
It is time for government to take charge, create “Care Charter” to run alongside with NHS, introduce special “Care Tax” where our contribution should go directly to NHS “Care Budget” rather than in bottomless pit where it could be wasted on ever increasing Overseas Aid, defence and such pet projects to inflate political ego of the government; appoint “Minister For Elderly”, support voluntary groups, as well as unpaid carers that saves government a small fortune. It is time to bring “Care Industry” into 21st Century and give our elderly respect and care they need and indeed deserve.
The main question is whether our politicians of all political persuasion, living in their “Ivory Tower” with draw-bridge raised, come out from their comfort zone and help these unfortunate people, rough-sleepers, some 600 dying in 2017 with average age of 44!
Do politicians have courage to transfer just £200 million from Overseas Aid budget to help our own down-trodden citizens! What has happened to the milk of kindness running through our veins!
Have we got politicians of the calibre of 1945 Labour government of Clement Atlee, Ernest Bevin and fiery patriotic Welshman Aneurin Bevan who gave us NHS! I sincerely hope so!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
