The number of care home beds in Wales fallen by 1,400, report finds

A report on Friday shows the number of private beds for elderly people has fallen by more than 6% in a year.

In April 2004, there were 21,100 beds available in care homes. By April of this year that had fallen to 19,700.

Independent care home owners say they face a shortage of funds. The Welsh Assembly Government said its own report would be published in October.

The survey conducted by analysts Laing and Buisson, paints a picture of a continuing decline in the number of care home beds across Wales.

Christine Adams, who runs care homes in Swansea and Clydach, said she was forced to close one home last year.

She said: "It was traumatic. It was not just the residents. We had one son of one of the ladies who had been with us who was in tears.

"The main thing was it was the elderly's home. All of them said it was really sad we were closing.

CARE HOME BEDS April 2004 - 21,100 beds April 2005 - 19,700 beds Drop 6.6% - largest in UK

"We were all desperate to make sure they went (on) to good homes, in fact some of my staff even went out for people who had no relatives to look for homes for them.

"But, unfortunately, change isn't a good thing for the elderly at that age and about 14 people have died in this time since they've moved."

'Ageing population'

By April of this year, the number of beds had fallen by 1,400 over 12 months, a percentage decrease of 6.6% - the biggest percentage fall in Britain. Across the UK, a total 8,700 beds were lost in the same period.

Care Forum Wales - which represents independent care home owners says the situation has come about primarily because of a shortage of funds.

The forum's chief executive, Mario Kreft, said the effect of the bed numbers decline is that people who were ready to leave hospital were often left waiting until a care home place could be found for them.

He said: "We have been telling this tale now for a number of years.

"We're seeing rural communities now where there is no local care home whatsoever. We're seeing a loss of very small homes.

"Care homes are a small but vital part of the system approach to provide health and social care services in Wales and, together with domiciliary care policy, we have got to make sure we've got enough beds for an ageing population."

The Welsh Assembly Government said it was not in a position to comment on the report, but the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales publishes it own annual report in October.