AN EXTRA 7,500 carers will be needed in Oxfordshire over the next decade to combat a so-called “care crisis.”

A report by Oxfordshire County Council said at least 750 extra care workers would be needed in the county every year for the next 10 to “keep pace with the growing numbers of people requiring care”.

This is in addition to the 14,000 carers in the county currently working in care homes and the community. 

But according to Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee member Laura Price, Oxfordshire is already at “crisis point” when it comes to caring for the elderly. 

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The council is reviewing the way it provides care to the elderly, and hopes to increase the number of carers who visit older and infirm people at home, rather than sending people to care homes. 

The number of people over 65 in Oxfordshire is expected to rise from an expected 122,000 in 2016 to 151,000 by 2026. 

Rose Hill resident 94-year-old Bill Buckingham has received home care partially paid for by the council after breaking his hip two years ago. He said: “It’s deplorable to me that some older people aren’t getting the care that they deserve.

]“I’m very lucky because as well as a carer I have neighbours who help me when I want to get out of the house.

“I guess more care workers will be needed.”

Mr Buckingham’s home carer, 24-year-old Nicola Edwards, has been working as a carer for 18 months. 
She said: “We do need more carers in the county because there are a lot of patients out there.”

Oxfordshire County Council said the figure quoted in its report was the “potential” unmet need for care workers in the county.  To tackle growing demand and balance the budget, Oxfordshire County Council suggested it reduces the number of care provider companies it deals with from 72 to between 10 and 15.

It also proposed reducing the hourly rate given to providers from an average of £19.40 to £19    an hour.
Without these changes, the council predicts that spending will increase from £19.9m between 2013 and 2014, to nearly £24m between 2015 and 2016.

In the most recent budget cuts, the county council announced that the budget for older care would be reduced by £750,000 between 2015 and 2016. 

Carterton resident and domiciliary care worker Richard Perry, 49, said: “For some care workers, the possibility of lower wages will be an issue. If you work in home care, you have to pay for car insurance, mileage and car maintenance. 

“Some people struggle to do this, and that won’t be helped if they’re paid even less.”

Ms Price added: “The problem is that the Government is moving the responsibility from one cash-strapped institution [the NHS] to another cash-strapped institution [Oxfordshire County Council].”

Chairwoman of the Older People’s Joint Management Group Judith Heathcoat, said: “Like many county bodies we are suffering from a lack of funds from central Government which means we have to look at how we run services. 

“We will ensure that we meet all statutory requirements.”

Chief executive of the Oxfordshire Association of Care Workers Eddy McDowell said: “We do not believe the market can sustain further cuts in hourly rates. 

“Oxfordshire is an expensive place to live and there is plenty       of competition for potential frontline workers. 

“We understand the need to reduce costs, but adult social care providers are being burdened with more and more costs by Government and local authorities.” 

Spokesman for the county council Marcus Mabberley said: “Pay and terms and conditions are a matter for individual companies.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “I believe the status and pay of care workers needs to be increased if these vital workers are to be recruited and retained in sufficient numbers and fairly rewarded for the hard job they do. It’s difficult to see how cutting the reimbursement to care providers is going to help achieve this.”

  • Are you a carer or does your family rely on carers? Get in touch and tell us your views by emailing aregan@nqo.com or calling 01865 425429



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