UK Care Industry on the brink of collapse

According to a report by Unison, the UK care industry is on the "brink of collapse".

There have been growing concerns about the UK's biggest care-home provider, Southern Cross, who are experiencing serious financial difficulties. Unison said that other large companies in the sector are also experiencing financial problems, and that if they were to go under, taxpayers would have to pick up the bill.
The Department of Health has denied that these financial issues have undermined the UK care system.

Southern Cross, which currently has around 31,000 residents in care homes across the UK, has said it will have to reduce the amount of rent it pays to its landlords for the next four months. The Unison report said the next biggest provider, Four Seasons, was also in serious financial trouble, although this was denied by Four Season's Chief Executive.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "We have already seen the huge impact of the Southern Cross collapse, but the care crisis is far from over. "Taxpayers will have to pay the price again, as they will be forced to pick up the bill for collapsing companies.

Is our social care sector on the road to disaster?? What can we do to escape from this crisis?