We do object to it being forced upon us though. Looking at the one in your picture there is no comparison with the tired and rather depressing one she uses. We do feel press-ganged and thrown from pillar to post though. Whether it was closing or not seemed to change from week to week.

It has caused great upset because older people don’t take enforced change well at all.

Moving vulnerable people from surroundings they understand and feel safe in when they don’t want to move is unforgiveable. As I say in my post, the mad rush which is causing the difficulties is because Labour in Staffordshire are way behind other large social care authorities who made the changes years ago.

It should have been phased in over five or six years which would mean people who are not in the care system but are about to enter it can have a better choice because they can decide what type of provision they want the state to fund but those already in state care could stay there.

Nobody should be removed from their public sector care home or day centre against their will. The policy in priciple is fine… delivery of that policy is shocking, financial crisis led and plain wrong.

Now to the costs, which further down the line is very important as it’s tax payers’ money, but should not override the wellbeing of people.

Day care in a modern private sector facility such as the one in my post costs around £40 a day whilst in the County run day care facilities it is about £65 plus transport costs.

Residential care is more complicated because the level of care varies. A guide for the basic level of care is £450 per week in the public sector and £312 in the private and third sector. It isn’t just cost though.

And let me say once more that Labour have made a real mess of delivering this and Conservative’s number one priority is trying to ensure that mess is put right and vulnerable people are properly treated. I hope this helps.

I read with interest your comments. The County Council has not communicated their intentions very well.

I wonder if you’d let me know the difference in cost between the public and private sector?

Also, I understand that Conservative Party policy is to use the private sector where it is better, market forces and all that. You are sending out a mixed message as some of your colleagues appear to want keep state sector provision come what may.

I’d appreciate some view on this and the information of costs.