Fifteen-minute visits for intimate care 'indicative of a care system in crisis'

Around 20,000 people in the UK are receiving ‘flying care visits’ lasting for only 15 minutes, with at least 18,875 people receiving these visits for support with intimate personal care, new research shows. This is despite guidance in the Care Act of 2014 stating these types of visits were 'not appropriate' for people requiring intimate care support.

Data was obtained by the disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, which was put out to local authorities across the UK.

These figures, from 2016-2017, could be even higher due to a lack of response from some of the Local Authorities contacted as part of the study.

This is the first time that data on home care visit duration has been obtained from Scotland and Wales.

In the report, the Government was criticised for its lack of progress on social care, with the charity stating the ‘flying visits’ were ‘indicative of a care system in crisis’. Leonard Cheshire’s chief executive Neil Heslop said: “As we approach the long-awaited government green paper on social care, the situation is tough in the sector.

“Inadequate flying visits are indicative of a care system in crisis and coupled with PIP shortcomings have rendered disabled people an increasingly embattled, beleaguered community, singled out for punitive measures.

“We will continue to campaign for the critical long-term funding that is needed to transform the provision of care and improve the quality of thousands of lives.”

The report also highlighted regional differences when it came to progress on 15-minute visits. Figures showed a slight improvement in England, but this progress was still slow with 12,416 people still receiving fifteen-minute social care from one in seven (or 15 per cent) of local councils.

In Scotland, data suggested that 5,182 people still receive 15-minute social care from nearly one in three (or 31 per cent) of local councils.

In Wales, 1,277 people still receive 15-minute social care from one in four (or 27 per cent) of local councils, with imminent legislation outlawing these visits from April. However, according to the research, one in four councils were still using these visits as recently as the end of last year.

For the past five years Leonard Cheshire has campaigned against 15-minute home care visits, arguing they are stripping disabled people of basic rights to dignity in care.

Dr Raymond Lang, a 57-year-old academic with cerebral palsy, agrees. He said he was in “no doubt that the social care sector in the UK is in crisis”, adding that "social care is a fundamental necessity in any civilised society."

He explained how having good care visits has enabled him to live as fully as possible: "As a person living with a disability and also maintaining a high pressured professional job, having sufficient time for my full-time day care calls are essential.

"They enable me to maintain my dignity and independence, as well as being empowered to make a significant contribution to society."

click here for more details or to contact Leonard Cheshire Disability