Commenting on the announcement today (Tuesday) that two of the holding companies behind care firm Four Seasons have gone into administration, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The company has been teetering on the brink for some time. While today’s announcement won’t immediately affect jobs or the running of care homes, it should act as an urgent wake up call to the government.
“Social care is in real trouble, but ministers’ preoccupation with Brexit means the sector’s problems are being ignored.
“Care of the elderly is too important to be left to the many companies whose business models hinge upon huge levels of private equity serviced debt. This is a reckless approach and no way to run the UK’s care sector.
“When unsustainable care companies crash, it’s local councils that have to step in and pick up the pieces – even though years of cuts have left their finances in no fit state to do so.
“Much more funding is needed, but not without major reform of social care. Otherwise much of the extra cash will simply find its way into the pockets of private care firms, especially those with shadowy financial backers.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Kieran Pearson T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07432 741595 E: k.pearson@unison.co.uk
