Tory U-turn on care homes

THE Government has been forced into a U-turn over plans to stop paying its pounds 45-a-week share for accommodating elderly, mentally ill and handicapped people in nursing or residential care homes if they went on holiday or into hospital for more than six days, writes Rosie Waterhouse.

Alistair Burt, social security minister, yesterday announced that the time limit had been extended so that residents would still receive the allowance from the Department of Social Security if they went into hospital for up to six weeks or were absent for any other reason, such as a holiday, for up to three weeks.

The Government's climb-down follows a report in the Independent last month which revealed that the six- day ruling had thrown into disarray the projected finances and care plans of private home owners and social services directors after the new community care policy came into force on Thursday.