15th June 2017

CMA Initial Findings Published

"The CMA has today (14th June 2017) published the initial findings of its care homes market study, and is investigating if some homes are breaking consumer law. The market study was launched in December 2016 to examine whether the residential care homes sector is working well for elderly people and their families. Having reached the halfway point of the study, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today published emerging findings and announced that, as a result of information received during this work, it has opened a consumer protection case to investigate its concerns that some care homes may be breaking consumer law." Read more..... CMA outlines emerging concerns in care homes market (gov.uk)

Worries over care home fees and funding (BBC News)
CMA’s interim report says some care homes may be breaking consumer law (careinfo.org)

"Clearly these challenges will need to be considered carefully as our understanding is that responsible providers issue a contract of service which will be based on assessed care needs. Within that there will be terms relating to accommodation which will take into account a period of time to enable families to take possession of personal items following the passing of a resident. This is a matter for families to challenge on admission if they are unhappy but once the contract is signed, as with any other contract it would be enforceable, however we know that most responsible providers will be flexible in their approach."
Nadra Ahmed OBE, Executive Chairman, National Care Association

Alex Hayman, Managing Director of Public Markets at Which?, said:
“These findings paint a worrying picture of the problems that we know cause older people, and their families and friends, distress. Which? has heard from hundreds of people who have had poor experiences with care homes, so these issues must be urgently tackled. It is now vital that the Competition and Markets Authority sets out practical recommendations to improve people's experiences when dealing with care homes. This must include action to drive up quality and value for money, improve the choice and information available to people, regulate the market effectively, and ensure that care home residents are properly protected.”

The launch of the review - CMA launches review of UK care and nursing homes (gov.uk)