Private care homes push for sharp rise in prices to take on NHS patients
Care home operators are pressing the UK government for higher prices to take in NHS patients as they seek to tackle a staff shortage before the pressures become even more acute.
Companies such as market leaders HC-One, Barchester Healthcare, Four Seasons and Care UK could receive up to £200mn under the new NHS crisis plan to clear patients from hospital beds by moving them to care homes.
The sector has about 70,000 free beds, according to data from property consultancy Knight Frank, far more than the 13,000 patients waiting for discharge.
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Hannah Kuchler
