A JUDICIAL review into
the funding of care home places in Pembrokeshire has begun in the High Court today (Dec 14, 2010) which will help decide the future of dozens of
elderly and vulnerable residents.

Four homes in Pembrokeshire claim they could close within weeks because of underfunding. The homes affected are Pen-coed in Saundersfoot, Langton Hall in Fishguard,
Woodfield care home in Narberth and Woodland Lodge, in Tenby.

Care home managers say the funding they receive is not enough to meet their costs so the money Pembrokeshire council pays care homes to look after residents is being challenged in the High Court.

The council pays for half the residents and says their payments are set fairly.

Pembrokeshire
council says other local authorities in Wales pay less to some care
homes and says the financial problems with the four homes in the court
case are nothing to do with how fees are set.

Care
Forum Wales, which represents independent care providers, says although the judicial
review is concentrating narrowly on the fees in Pembrokeshire, these
are issues facing care homes and councils across Wales due to purse strings tightening and cut backs in public spending.

The judicial review is expected to last for three days.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-11987808