Cattle market: At least a dozen councils are listing vulnerable people’s details – including their age and what care and medication they need – on eBay-like software and inviting bids from local care homes (file photo)
[From article]
The elderly and disabled are being ‘put up for auction’ by local councils on ‘eBay-style’ websites, with care firms then bidding to offer them a bed.
At least a dozen local authorities are listing vulnerable people’s details – including their age and what care and medication they need – before inviting bids from care homes in the area.
The bidding is sometimes open for only a few hours, at other times it can last for two or three days. The cheapest offer often wins.
[. . .]
Radio 5 Live also found that in some cases in Birmingham elderly people were being sent to homes which won the online auction despite being ‘zero-rated’ by the council on its own 0-100 scale of care quality – where scores under 60 are ‘poor’.
Les Latchman, chairman of the Birmingham Care Consortium, which represents care homes in Birmingham and commissioned the FOI request, said the system was forcing providers to offer lower and lower prices to secure the contract.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2945079/Old-people-auctioned-care-homes-internet-Anger-cattle-markets-grannies-councils-accept-lowest-bids-save-cash.html
Old people auctioned off to care homes on the internet: Anger over 'cattle markets for grannies' as councils accept lowest bids to save cash
At least a dozen local authorities are listing vulnerable people's details
Ages and care needs including medication sent to up to 100 care firms
They pick which people to bid for - and cheapest offer nearly always wins
Expert Ros Altmann: 'eBay-style' system 'awful' and 'just uncivilised'
Health group leader: 'It's an absolute disgrace - it's like a cattle market'
By RUTH LYTHE and CLAIRE DUFFIN FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 17:56 EST, 8 February 2015 | UPDATED: 06:42 EST, 9 February 2015
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