CARE providers across the district remain at loggerheads with Northumberland County Council over a contract which determines fee levels for residents.

Around 28 of the 69 care homes in the county are continuing to negotiate with the council after refusing to sign an agreement which they say can leave them with up to £60 less per resident per week than equivalent facilities in Newcastle.

And they say a revised offer tabled by the council earlier this month will still see vulnerable and elderly residents losing out.

“On the face of it the new contract looks promising, but when you actually look into the detail, it’s clear that a lot of homes will still be worse off,” said Dr Bill Cunningham, retired GP and chairman of trustees at Charlotte Straker in Corbridge.

The revised document includes a move towards tailoring fee payment levels according to ratings issued following inspections by the Care Quality Commission, and the removal of the council’s own quality-weighted payment scheme.

“The recent annual CQC report indicated the opinion that nationally, smaller care homes are regarded as providing better care,” added Dr Cunningham.

“And that seems to be an opinion shared by the council, which is introducing reductions in fee levels, per resident, per week, if you have more than 30 beds and again if you have more than 40 beds.”

Under the old system, a 30-bed facility like Charlotte Straker was rated in the highest band under the council’s own quality-weighted payment scheme and so was entitled to more funding.

But, under the new proposals, the home would lose out because it’s CQC rating is “good” – the second highest available – and plans to introduce any more beds in the future could see the facility penalised.

Dr Cunningham also questioned where the £6.4m allocated to Northumberland for adult social care in the Spring Budget was being spent, along with the three per cent council tax increase which had been applied.

A spokeswoman for Northumberland County Council said: “The council made an offer of a revised contract to all providers in Northumberland on August 11 which provides significant additional financial investment in the care home market in the county.

“Of the minority of providers who had previously not signed a contract, the largest national care home provider, which operates 10 homes in Northumberland, has accepted the revised terms within this new offer.

“This means that the majority of care homes, beds and providers in Northumberland are now under contract with the council.”

While negotiations continue, some providers have lifted an embargo on admitting residents whose care is funded by the local authority and are using “sport contracts”, to provide care for those who need it.

“Because of our charitable status, we will always help those who financially, do not have the means,” said Dr Cunningham.

“But we would dearly like to sign a contract which is in the best interests of residents.”