Is This The Only Empty Care Bed In East Yorkshire?

Campaigners calling on East Riding Council to intervene in the private care home crisis will be out collecting signatures for a petition this Saturday morning in Hedon and Beverley.

They intend to raise the issue of the crisis in social care, when next the full council meets as concerns grow over how oplder people in community will be cared for.

They say the petition gives them the opportunity to speak to care home users and workers direct.

In the last three months, three East Riding homes have closed or are in the process of closing against a background of government underfunding.

Speaking ahead of the their plans to seek more support Beverley Labour Party’s George McManus said;

“We were overwhelmed with support when we rolled the petition out last weekend in Beverley, Hessle, Pocklington and Withernsea.”

“As well as collecting signatures we’ll be introducing our latest campaign tool. An empty hospital bed will be centre stage in Beverley’s Toll Gavel on Saturday morning.”

“I hope everyone with an interest will come to share their experiences and sign this important petition.”

Local councils through the UK face the tough task of balancing their books following a string of cuts made by central government. 

Some councils have already made it clear that the only way to protect such services like caring for the elderly will require a sharp increase in council tax.

While homes are closing in Beverley new state of the art facilities are being constructed though some have said the costs the new homes will charge make them inaccessible to most.

At the full East Riding of Yorkshire Council meeting, the leader Cllr Stephen Parnaby that while most people wanted more to be done to protect care in the community it would require a tax increase which is less popular with residents in the East Riding.