News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Elderly-person-hands-main_article_image.jpg
John Stillwell/PA Wire
UK News

Christian care home owner says NHS Airbnb idea is 'unacceptable'

by Eno Adeogun

On Thursday, it was reported a private company was in talks with a health trust to trial a scheme in Essex aimed at freeing up beds.

Under the scheme, so-called 'hosts' would need no care experience but could be paid £50 a night to offer Airbnb-style accommodation and three microwave meals a day.

Roslyn Anyanwu, a Christian and owner of Gentle Hands care home told Premier's News Hour her reaction to the idea.

She said: "Care is more than care. It's not just giving somebody breakfast or giving them food to eat. There is what is called duty of care for every carer.

"People with no experience should not go and care for anybody."

However, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have released a statement saying there's never been a plan in place for it to be involved in a scheme and has insisted it will never compromise safety.

The NHS hospital also said it won't look at trialling the idea until necessary arrangements are in place.

Ministers were also urged to drop the "preposterous" trial scheme.

Labour former minister Lord Clark of Windermere warned that "vulnerable patients" would be allocated to homes where the host had no "medical expertise".

At question time, he said: "Won't the Government listen to the medical opinion and drop this preposterous scheme."

His sentiments were backed by Anyanwu who told Premier what she considered a better solution to the shortage of hospital beds.

She explained: "People should live in their own home environment and then the government should put enough support packages for them to be able to do that.

"Because in most cases, people are being released under a six-week assessment... NHS provides support for six-weeks, then what happens after six weeks?

The vulnerable person obviously makes a return to come back to the hospital again and that's not good."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate