Number of North Yorkshire care home beds available to elderly people ‘at record low’

Care home representatives and charities warn vulnerable people could be put at risk without more funding to increase capacity in the sector across England, which has been strained by Covid-19.

Public Health England data shows there were 9.3 care homes beds per 100 people aged 75 and over in North Yorkshire at the end of March.

This was the lowest rate since comparable records began in 2011.

The figure includes beds in residential homes, which provide accommodation and help with things such as washing and dressing, and nursing homes, which are staffed by nurses and offer support to people with more complex needs.

The trend in North Yorkshire was similar to that across England, where the rate also dropped to a record low of 9.6 per 100 in March, down slightly from 9.8 last year.

Martin Green, chief executive of charity Care England, said he feared the long-term capacity of the system could be “severely depleted” without further funding.

He added: “The unprecedented cost pressures leveraged by Covid-19 put the future of many care providers into question.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said a lack of funding is forcing some care homes to close their doors for good.

The resulting decline in nursing home beds is a “serious concern”, she said, as few alternatives exist for people who need such care apart from hospital.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The number of care home beds remains stable and care given at home is growing, with innovation and technology allowing people to live at home for longer.

“We know there is a need for a long-term solution for social care and are looking at a range of proposals as part of our commitment to bringing forward a plan that puts the sector on a sustainable footing for the future.”

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