9:02am Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Telegraph & Argus
The care of the vulnerable in society is something that we, as a welfare state, must take very seriously indeed.
So it is only natural that the fact Bradford Council is considering closing the 11 care homes it runs across the district will raise fears among those who reside there and their families.
Closure is, of course, only one of four options the council is considering in the face of rising costs to maintain the existing buildings and facilities.
Obviously, the council must look closely at all the options and consider which schemes offer the best value for money, as we would expect them to do.
But money is not the only consideration – indeed, not the overriding one.
Those who live in the council-run care homes, whether they are elderly, disabled or have learning difficulties, require the best care that they can possibly get.
At the heart of the provision of care is the human factor, and ensuring that those who rely on these facilities are properly served must be paramount in the decision-making.
With the district’s elderly population expected to grow by almost 4,000 over the next 15 years, it is vital that the choices made now are the right ones to ensure future delivery of care is maintained to the highest standard possible.
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