UNISON has today released an excellent film on facebook and twitter demonstrating that it is impossible to provide good care in 15 min. The short film features actress Claire Sweeney and we would urge you to share as wide as possible on social media and encourage people to sign the petition.
- The government has slashed councils’ social care budgets, leaving a huge shortfall in funding. With so little cash at their disposal, councils are commissioning 15-minute visits, but they shouldn’t be.
- UNISON’s film shows, a quarter of an hour isn’t enough time to wash, feed and dress someone, especially if they’re frail and confused. The government must put a stop to this national scandal, start putting proper funding into social care, and ensure care is delivered properly.
- Rushed visits are distressing for the people being cared for, and extremely stressful for care workers as they don’t have enough time to care for them properly.
New figures from UNISON suggest nearly two-thirds (65%) of councils in England and Wales are commissioning 15-minute care visits, which include trips to hand out medication and carry out welfare checks. But earlier this year the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability said that more than one in five (22%) of councils in England are still commissioning quarter hour visits to administer personal care. One council is too many.