Council say ‘no disruption to service’ for 88 people as contingency plans put into operation following Allied Healthcare uncertainty

Wrexham Council is offering assurances that care services will not be subject to disruption as they say provider Allied Healthcare may not be operating in the new year.

Previously there has been uncertainty over the future of care provider Allied Healthcare after the Care Quality Commission raised concerns over the UK wide homecare provider’s financial sustainability.

Wrexham Council have told us this afternoon there are 88 clients under Allied Healthcare, adding: “Wrexham Adult Social Care Department is aware of the issues and is working closely with Allied and other Wrexham domiciliary care providers in order to secure a new provider and ensure there is no disruption to service.”

Councillors have been provided with an update that states the situation has changed ‘very quickly’ and as a result Allied Healthcare ‘is now no longer in a position to continue operating past December’.

Due to this Wrexham Council have put contingency plans into operation that will see ‘smooth’ transfer of Allied Healthcare contracts move to alternative domiciliary care Providers.

Hand delivered letters have been given to service users affected, along with letters for Allied Healthcare staff.

In the update to Councillors it is noted: “We expect to have this work completed and new Providers appointed by the end of next week.

“This will then allow transition time and mean that Allied Healthcare staff know which Providers they will transfer to which will provide assurances for them and help to maintain stability.”

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Allied Healthcare has told us: “The Stage 6 notification has negatively impacted Allied Healthcare, leading a number of customers to transfer care services to alternative providers, and disrupting staff retention and recruitment.

“These developments have intensified the impact of the challenging environment within which we operate and come immediately prior to the Christmas period, when pressures on care providers are at their highest. This has also meant that we have had to re-evaluate our long-term business plan.

“We are therefore actively exploring a range of options in order to minimise disruption to continuity of care, including the sale or transition of care and support services on a regional or contract-by-contract basis to alternative providers best placed to deliver care at a local level. Such sales or transitions will involve the transfer of staff. This process will be conducted in close cooperation with our customers.

“We continue to trade safely while this process is underway. RBS as our existing lender has agreed to extend our current credit line by up to three weeks beyond 30 November, enabling us to deliver safe continuity of care whilst we explore and implement these options.

“We will work closely with the CQC and all commissioners of care to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the care that we provide across the UK whilst this transition takes place. Continuity of care is our number one priority.”