Care Homes Cover Up

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

The government have blocked news about poor Care Homes being released just before the important local elections across Britain.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection was due to release the results of its new star grading system for Care Homes and Domiciliary Care Agencies but following advice from the Cabinet Office the information will now be published on May 7th.

Social care services were to be graded from nil star for poor care to three stars for excellent provision.

"This type of interference and spin was something Gordon Brown said he would eliminate, but things appear to be getting worse under his premiership" said Graham Oakes, Lib Dem PPC for Exeter.

Graham Oakes, who works as a senior manager in the social care sector added:

"The results are published to help people to make the often difficult decision about which care home to place their elderly parent. The system itself will need to be refined, perhaps extended to a five star system. To block its publication for purely political reasons is totally unacceptable and shows just how worried Labour are at present."