A new report, produced by the disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability has highlighted the problem of “flying care visits”.
Around 20,000 people in the UK are receiving ‘flying care visits’ lasting for only 15 minutes, with at least 18,875 people receiving these visits for support with intimate personal care, the charity’s research shows. This is despite guidance in the Care Act of 2014 stating these types of visits were ‘not appropriate’ for people requiring intimate care support.
Data was obtained by the disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, which was put out to local authorities across the UK.
These figures, from 2016-2017, could be even higher due to a lack of response from some of the Local Authorities contacted as part of the study.
In the report, the Government was criticised for its lack of progress on social care, with the charity stating the ‘flying visits’ were ‘indicative of a care system in crisis’. Leonard Cheshire’s chief executive Neil Heslop said: “As we approach the long-awaited government green paper on social care, the situation is tough in the sector.
“Inadequate flying visits are indicative of a care system in crisis and coupled with PIP shortcomings have rendered disabled people an increasingly embattled, beleaguered community, singled out for punitive measures.
“We will continue to campaign for the critical long-term funding that is needed to transform the provision of care and improve the quality of thousands of lives.”
Read more on this report on the homecare.co.uk website
