Stronger guidance need on top-up fees – Burstow

Former care minister Paul Burstow has called on the government ensure councils pay the correct amount for care home placements rather than relying on service users and their families to top-up any shortfall in fees. Citing the requirement for council to pay more for a care home place than its usual rate if no other accommodation was available, the Liberal Democrat MP said in a parliamentary debate that many local authorities were asking relatives to top-up the difference between their rates and the actual cost of the care provided. He called for forthcoming Care Act guidance to local authorities to compel councils to meet this financial requirement.