Community
Wales hurtling towards 10,000 care home bed deficit over next decade
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2011ACADEMY45.jpg)
EXPERTS have warned there will be desperate shortage of 10,000 care home beds in Wales over the next decade.
The alert has been raised specialist business property adviser Christie & Co who say there is a growing need for new, “future proof” care homes to meet the need.
Their prediction comes at a time when demand is spiralling upwards, with the over 85 population set to double over the next 20 years.
According to sector champions Care Forum Wales (CFW) the “alarming figures” illustrated the need for social care to be funded properly for existing homes to survive and encourage the development of new ones.
CFW warned that Wales was “sleepwalking into disaster” because the growing shortage of care home beds would pile pressure on the beleaguered NHS when hospitals were already virtually at breaking point.
Building new care homes is a costly business as Gwynedd and Flintshire county councils have shown recently.
They have plans to build two new facilities with a total of around 100 beds between them at an estimated cost of more than £250,000 per bed.
If their figures are correct that would mean it would mean it would cost £400 million for the extra beds needed in North Wales and £2.5 billion for the whole of Wales over the next 10 years.
Worryingly, Christie & Co also revealed in the report that 40 elderly care homes in Wales closed and only four opened between 2020 and 2023 – with no new ones in North Wales.
Among the closures in North Wales were Trewythen Hall in Gresford, Bay Court in Kinmel Bay, Gwastad Hall in Cefn y Bedd and Morfa Newydd in Greenfield with the loss of more than 160 beds.
CFW Chair Mario Kreft MBE said: “The report from Christie & Co paints a bleak picture an illustrates how the existing crisis is going to get even worse, creating a double whammy for our overstretched hospitals which have rows of ambulances queuing outside and patients on trolleys in corridors.
“Instead of being able to build more care homes to meet growing demand, we are seeing more and more care home closures.
“The cost of building new care homes and replacing the beds we are losing now is absolutely eye-watering.
“Our public finances in Wales are already under pressure so where is this money coming from?
“The way care homes are funded in Wales is a total postcode lottery with 29 variations on a theme, with most of social care being commissioned by the 22 local authorities and seven health boards.
“Within that there is a gaping North-South divide with five of the six county councils in North Wales paying the lowest fees, arrived at by a fee-fixing cartel known as the North Wales Regional Fees Group.
“The one shining exception is Conwy Council where earlier this year announced inflation-busting plans to increase fees by up to 20% after warnings that care homes were at risk of financial meltdown and closure.
“Following a long-running campaign by Care Forum Wales they have introduced fairer fees which reflect the actual cost of providing care for vulnerable people in privately run homes, including those with dementia.
“That came about because Conwy broke away from the North Wales Regional Fees Group and took our advice by commissioning leading healthcare economists Laing & Buisson to analyse the true costs of care providers for the current year.
“It’s and internationally recognised tool to ensure that and those living and working in care homes can receive the best care, while at the same time, ensuring that the
“This is something we have been calling for over many years. All we want is fairness in line with the Welsh Government’s ‘Let’s agree to agree’ guidance.
“The fundamental issue threatening the viability of care homes is the unrealistically low fees that the vast majority of councils and health boards pay, fees that come nowhere near covering the true cost of providing care.
“Economically, it would make a lot more sense to ensure the financial security of our existing care homes instead of just relying on the forlorn hope that somebody is going to magically build enough new ones to meet current needs and the increasing demands for social care.
“We’ve had a generation of injustice and it’s a generation where the institutional prejudice and discrimination against the private care sector in Wales has meant that those living and working in these fantastic community assets have not been valued.
“The problems we have in social care lead to the pressures in the NHS which lead of course then to extra costs being placed on the NHS which would largely be alleviated if local authorities had a more enlightened approach to social care.
“If Conwy can do it, the other five local authorities in North Wales can and should do it and of course, the money has always been there. It’s how you politically choose to spend it.
“Across the famous Foryd Bridge, which links Kinmel Bay and Rhyl, Denbighshire County Council is budgeting announced much smaller increases of around 8% on rock bottom fees which have been immediately wiped out by inflation and the cost of living crisis.
“The vastly differing rates mean that Denbighshire will be paying £9,224 a year less per person than Conwy towards the cost of giving exactly the same level of nursing care to residents.
“It is simply an outrage. It’s an affront to the families that that bridge spanning the mouth of the River Clwyd can mean such a massive difference for vulnerable people, including those with dementia.
“The families of those people, who will often be expected to make up the difference, need to ask why and quite frankly, it is a bridge too far.
“This is undoubtedly a stealth tax on families and quite frankly, the people making these decisions in those authorities should be utterly ashamed of themselves in the way they are betraying vulnerable people including those with profound dementia and their families.
“What this demonstrates is that there is an urgent need for us to look again at the way social care is funded.
“We need a national approach to eliminate this iniquitous postcode lottery so that the people for whom we provide care and our staff are treated fairly.
”This is too important to be left to local authorities and health boards alone – it has to be driven by the Welsh Government.”
Pictured: Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales
Community
Community rallies to support family of Chris ‘Mucker’ Boyle
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mukka-scaled-e1725452296502.jpg)
THE local community has come together to raise thousands of pounds in memory of Chris ‘Mucker’ Boyle, a beloved taxi driver who tragically lost his life in a road traffic accident earlier this week.
Mr Boyle, 57, from Kilgetty, was killed in a collision involving two vehicles near Tenby on the evening of Monday, 2nd September. His death has sent shockwaves through the area, where he was widely known and respected. In the days since the accident, friends, family, and customers have expressed their grief, remembering Mr Boyle for his generosity and kindness. His family remarked that he was “the kind of man who would do anything for anyone”.
A fundraising campaign to assist with funeral expenses and to support Mr Boyle’s five children has so far raised almost £13,700, with nearly 400 people contributing. One particularly generous individual has donated £750.
Gabriel Nowak, a colleague and fellow taxi driver, organised the fundraiser, stating: “I don’t think there’s anyone in Tenby or Pembrokeshire who didn’t know Mucker. His friendly face and his sense of humour will be missed by so many.”
“Chris was always there for people, whether it was squeezing in an extra lift or knocking a bit off the fare to make sure someone got home safely. Now it’s our turn to give back to him,” Mr Nowak added.
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mukkabw.jpg)
Tributes have poured in, with friends and colleagues sharing fond memories of the late cabbie and expressing their sorrow over the loss of someone who was seen as a key figure in the community.
Chris Boyle’s funeral is set to take place at St Mary’s Church in Tenby on Friday, 27th September at 10:00 am, followed by a committal service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium at 12:15 pm. The funeral procession will pass through Kilgetty at approximately 11:45 am, allowing those who wish to pay their respects to do so.
Funeral directors W. & M.J. Rossiter & Sons, based in Tenby, shared a heartfelt message on behalf of Mr Boyle’s family: “Chris was a deeply loved son, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be sorely missed by his children Daniel, Chloe, Leah, Jimmy, and Tommy J, as well as his siblings Liz, David, and Lisa.”
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Firefighters Charity in Chris Boyle’s memory. Donations can be sent via the funeral directors.
Additionally, local rock and blues band Karma will be dedicating their upcoming performance at the Lawrenny Arms on Saturday, 14th September to Mr Boyle. A collection will be held during the event, with proceeds going to The Firefighters Charity.
A man has been charged in connection with the fatal accident. Mateusz Sikorski, 30, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after his silver Volkswagen collided with a brown BMW near Penally on the A4139.
Mr Sikorski appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 5th September and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on 7th October.
Dyfed-Powys Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 405 of Monday, 2nd September. Alternatively, those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The loss of Chris ‘Mucker’ Boyle has deeply impacted the local community, and the outpouring of support for his family is a testament to how cherished he was by those who knew him.
Community
Saundersfoot Annual Vintage Motorcycle Event showcases classic machines
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/4FDD5718-217C-41D6-9BAB-6867B28C9063_1_201_a.jpeg)
ON SATURDAY (Sept 7), Saundersfoot came alive with the roar of nearly 100 vintage motorcycles as the annual Saundersfoot Vintage Motorcycle Event hit the coastal roads of South Pembrokeshire. Enthusiasts and spectators alike were treated to the sight of beautifully restored bikes from a bygone era, as they cruised westward out of the village.
The event, a local favorite, drew riders and fans from across the region to celebrate the engineering marvels of the past. It was a day filled with nostalgia, as the sound of classic engines echoed through the scenic routes.
Check out the photos from the event, captured by Malcolm Richards, to relive the vintage spectacle, on our Facebook page.
Community
Blue Lagoon temporarily closed to protect seals and their pups
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/pups.jpg)
ONE of Pembrokeshire’s most popular coastal attractions is to be temporarily closed to swimmers in a bid to protect breeding seals and their pups.
The National Trust will be closing the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy on Saturday, September 21, and it will remain closed until the beginning of November. The date of its re-opening is yet to be decided.
The nearby beach at Traeth Llyfn will also be closed for the same period.
Visitors will still be able to watch the seals and their pups in their natural habitat from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Anyone who may come across seals and their pups in other parts of Pembrokeshire is asked to avoid disturbing them and follow the Marine Code. This involves staying quiet, keeping at least 50 metres away from them, and never coming between a seal and her pup. Dogs must also be kept on leads at all times and kept away from the breeding areas.
-
Crime4 days ago
Man who threatened to chop off teenage girl’s ears given community sentence
-
Crime7 days ago
Three men in charged with kidnap following attack on west Wales man
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Mary Poppins star Glynis Johns laid to rest in West Wales
-
Crime5 days ago
Burglary at Royal Mail Sorting Office in Pembroke Dock
-
Crime6 days ago
Woman charged with murder of six-year-old boy in Swansea
-
Crime3 days ago
Taxi driver’s death leads to death by dangerous driving charge
-
News7 days ago
Former Tasker Milward pupil Matt Bush claims Taekwondo Gold
-
Crime6 days ago
How Dyfed-Powys Police cracks down on the drug gangs exploiting West Wales