Funding of care homes isn’t meant to be exciting – or labyrinthine
Nils Pratley
An inquiry into the sector is long overdue, and the best source of private capital is pension funds
May 2018
Carillion is no one-off scandal. Neoliberalism will bring many more
Owen Jones
‘Recklessness, hubris and greed’ describes the entire system of delivering essential public services through profit-driven companies, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones
December 2017
Old and vulnerable people and financial whiz-kids don’t mix
Sonia Sodha
Private equity owners impose huge debts and demands on a vital service for the vulnerable. Something has to change
October 2015
Crisis in UK care homes set to ‘dwarf the steel industry’s problems’
The widening gap between costs and local authority funding for vulnerable elderly people means half of Britain’s care home places could disappear as providers go under and jobs are lost
June 2014
Financial strategy of Southern Cross homes blamed for old people's deaths
Case review into neglect and abuse at Orchid View care home blames too few staff and poor management for five deaths
December 2012
Care homes watchdog could monitor firms' financial health
Minister launches consultation for measures aimed at preventing repeat of Southern Cross crisis
November 2012
Outrage as AA's owner Acromas pays just 2.7% in corporation tax on profits
Lloyds may inherit troubled care homes
September 2012
CBI says public sector spending should be open to private firms
Employers' body report claims government could save £22.6bn if public services were open to competition
August 2012
Businesses resort to company voluntary agreements to stave off insolvency
Number of CVAs, which allow businesses to renegotiate their debts, rose by 32% to 924 last year, says accountancy firm
May 2012
Terra Firma care homes takeover triggers MPs' calls for tighter regulation
MPs fear Guy Hands' deal puts 25,000 elderly Four Seasons residents at risk of Southern Cross-style collapse
April 2012
New owners of Southern Cross dispute union £150m compensation claim
GMB union argues staff should receive 13 weeks' pay because they were not properly consulted
March 2012
100 NHS voices
NHS reforms: the former NHS trust chairman's view
Roy Lilley, 66, is a former Conservative councillor and NHS trust chairman, who blogs at the NHSmanagers.net website
December 2011
More opposition to the health bill
Barclays and Lloyds swallow £50m Southern Cross debt
November 2011
Southern Cross to complete care home transfer before Christmas
Care home operator to transfer last of its properties to new owners within four weeks and announces CEO Jamie Buchan is to step down
Datablog
Southern Cross care homes: get the list
New Southern Cross' care homes data shows what will happen to each home as transfers progress
Doubling in number of care home firms collapsing into administration
Private equity and care: a sector propped up by debt
Public manager
How regulated private finance could help services improve
