Proposed “Lighter Touch” Regulations – Are peers waking up at last?
 

Earlier this month new government proposals saw a watering down of the care home regulations – the governing rules which dictate how a care home must operate. The regulations, part of the Health and Social Care Act, were passed through the House of Commons in a hearing which lasted less than half an hour and were due to go before the Lords Grand Committee last week. In an about turn this month, though, the scheduled debate was scrapped in favour of a full House of Lords debate.

The proposed new Regulations delete three current Regulations which require that:
 

• Care homes must tell residents and their representatives about their complaints procedures;
• Care homes must plan for and have emergency procedures in place;
• Care homes must give residents a choice of food and drink.

Earlier this year we wrote to Ministers to voice our objections to the new “lighter touch” regulations which we believe will leave older people in care more vulnerable than ever.

This month we wrote again to Peers at the House of Lords and many of you joined us by writing to your own MPs. It seems our efforts were not wasted as the Grand Committee hearing was subsequently cancelled in favour of a full House of Lords debate scheduled to take place next week on the evening of 5 November. Lord Hunt has put down a motion regretting that the deletion of these regulations undermines the protection of care home residents. This is a real reflection of the seriousness with which Peers are viewing these proposed changes.

We shall be keeping up the pressure to ensure that these important protections in the regulations are not lost and will keep you posted. In the meantime, once again, a big thank you to those of you who supported us and took action, your efforts have made a valued contribution to bringing the issue of older people in care to those who can make improvements.