Written - Not for Profit Nursing Homes

The Assembly Government is committed to improving services provided to older and vulnerable people, to help them to be independent and achieve their full potential.  “One Wales” stated that we will drive forward improvements in the quality of care services, creating seamless care pathways at a fair cost.  This included the development of not for profit nursing homes. 

Together with the Minister for Health and Social Services, I have been considering a range of options to identify the best approach to meet this commitment.   The preferred model that we have agreed to pursue is the development of an integrated resource centre model which will incorporate a nursing home as one of its components.  This model would provide a broader range of local services and facilities and could be particularly relevant for rural communities.  The model could include nursing home beds, day care facilities, extra care housing, an information centre, an office base for community services, GP premises etc.  The exact combination of services would be based on an analysis of local needs. 

Assembly Government officials in Housing and the Directorate General for Health and Social Services are working closely with officers in local authorities and local health boards to develop the more integrated approach to provide services.  Demonstration projects are being developed in Builth Wells in Powys and Tregaron in Ceredigion.

I am convinced that this approach will offer a more flexible way of responding to local needs and will prove an exciting, innovative service development for people living in rural areas, particularly older and vulnerable people in Wales.

In view of the timescales remaining, it will not be possible to take up all of the funding made available for this One Wales commitment.  The funding is therefore being re-allocated to the Social Housing Grant Programme to provide affordable homes, support the construction industry and contribute to the One Wales target of an additional 6,500 affordable homes.