Pensioner given last minute reprieve in care fees row
An elderly woman living with dementia has been allowed to stay at her care home following a dispute over her care fees.
Dorothy Holroyd has been living at Merlin Court Care Home, in Wiltshire, for the past two years but her daughter was recently informed that she would have to find another facility following a stand-off over who would cover the £1,100 a week bills.
The 82-year-old’s daughter, Lynda Lester, had been informed last month that funding had been withdrawn and had begun efforts to appeal against the decision.
Mrs Lester said: “Mum had funding from Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group but moved to Wiltshire to be closer to me.
“I received news that the funding would stop by May 24 and I have tried to appeal to Liverpool Continued Health Care. Mum’s savings were used at the very beginning of her care, which was four years ago.
“The manager of Merlin Court rang me on Friday to talk about funding and by Saturday morning I had the letter saying mum had to be out by this Friday. She has severe dementia and difficulty breathing. It is a complete disgrace.”
This week Wiltshire Council agreed to intervene and cover the costs of the bill in the short term so that a solution can be reached.
A local authority spokesman said: “Mrs Holroyd’s care has not previously been funded by Wiltshire Council, however we have been in contact with the local authority responsible and have been able to reassure her family that she will continue to receive care and will not have to move from Merlin Court this week.”
Commenting on the situation, Merlin Court’s manager said: “We don’t want to make anyone distressed. We need to work out the funding to sort it out. At the end of the day we need to follow procedure. You can’t have someone in the care home and no-one funding it.”
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