Thousands of sick and elderly Brits could be forced into residential care by cash-strapped NHS chiefs
Around one in five local NHS bodies want to end home visits if they cost more than a care home place
THOUSANDS of sick and elderly Brits could be forced out of their own homes by NHS cuts.
More than 13,000 face ending up in residential care against their will as health chiefs refuse to pay for care in their own home.
Around one in five local NHS bodies want to end home visits if they cost more than a care home place.
Leading charities last night slammed the “horrible” cost-cutting measures.
Janet Morrison from Independent Age said: “We are shocked and deeply worried.
“It could mean older people who are able to live independently in their own home being forced to move into a care home.”
And Caroline Abrahams from Age UK said: “It’s horrible. Not only does this go against government policy of keeping people in their own homes it ignores the grave shortage of care home beds in some areas.”
An investigation by the Health Service Journal and Disability United found at least 37 out of 209 local health bodies plan to cut spending.
It could affect more than 13,000 Brits.
Known as clinical commissioning groups, they are in charge of NHS cash and pay for patients to be cared for at home.
This spending covers those who need medical care but are otherwise fine living independently.
Many have physical disabilities, brain injuries or mental health problems.
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But 19 CCGs have banned paying for care at home if the cost exceeds that of residential homes by more than 10 per cent.
Another seven said they had set the threshold at 20, 25 or 40 per cent above care home fees, while a further 11 are planning cuts.
Several have taken legal advice on whether the cuts breach human rights. The cash curbs were revealed in Freedom of Information requests.
Former care minister and Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb said it was “scandalous”.
He said: “If someone is able to live independently forcing them to live in a care home is outrageous.
“It treats people as second class citizens.”
Independent Age’s Janet Morrison added: “It cannot be right to adopt a blanket policy which threatens to override the wishes of thousands of older people and their families.”
Disability United editor Fleur Perry, who receives home care herself, said: “We knew it was happening but no one knew the scale of the problem.
“How would anyone feel forced to move from their home into an institution?”
But a Department of Health spokesman said: “We expect all CCGs to follow the national framework, and continued independence should be considered as part of the overall approach.
“It does not fall to us to approve an individual CCG’s policy.”