Former South Holland councillor describes system to fund care as ‘diabolical’ following wife’s admission to Holbeach Hospital

A former councillor has described the social care system as ‘diabolical’ now that his bed bound wife needs fulltime help.

Carol Rudkin is being cared for in Holbeach Hospital due to mobility issues but as her NHS funding has run out - she and her husband Graham now need to find more than £1,000 a week to fund her ongoing support.

This would mean potentially selling any assets to ensure that Carol gets the care she needs.

The couple - who have worked all their lives - are speaking out to raise awareness of an issue which is affecting many families. Social care as an industry is struggling for staff and it plays a vital role in the smooth running of our hospitals.

Mr Rudkin, who used to sit on South Holland and Holbeach Parish councils, said: “The system is wrong and it is diabolical.

“I think it needs bringing to attention, it is a big issue.

“There will be other pensioners in the same situation who will go into a home and they will probably lose their property.”

Carol had a replacement hip operation 11 years ago and last summer got a gallbladder infection.

Mr Rudkin said: “It knocked her off her feet.

“I had her at home but couldn't manage her and got a doctor to put her in a GP bed last October on NHS funding.

“She had depression and then the funding was withdrawn and it will cost £1,020 a week to stay in Holbeach Hospital.”

The couple, both 76, from Holbeach will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November.

Mr Rudkin visits Carol, who is bed bound, twice a day in her room at hospital and she will be there for the foreseeable future.

He said: “I feel it is unjust.

“Those people that have worked hard and accrued a little bit of wealth are going to use it all.

“I don't know whether Carol will ever come home as she is happy where she is but it is unfair.”

As the couple have more than the upper threshold of £23,250 in assets and savings they will pay for Carol’s care needs, though this threshold is set to change in 2025 to £100,000.

Mr Rudkin has explored options of home care with two carers visiting four times a day and is angry that in Scotland the rules around care funding are different to this country.

He said: “We would have to have the bungalow altered to use the hoist if she did come home.

“I am not hard up pension-wise but to have the bathroom changed would cost £7,000.

“The council could put a clause on the house, so if I died they would take Carol’s half to pay for her care, the kids would get something but I don’t think it should happen, it is not right.”

Mr Rudkin left school at the age of 15 and ran his own business for a number of years before joining Princes factory in Long Sutton where he worked 12 hour shifts, six nights a week.

Having worked hard all his life before retiring aged 63 and Carol working as a child minder for 30 years, facilitating the care of more than 280 children, he feels they are being penalised.

He said: “Both Carol and I have worked hard all our lives and because we have accrued a bit of money now we have got to pay for the care.

“There are 30 beds on the floor that she is on and 20 of those don’t have to pay.

“There will be a hell of a lot of people in the same situation.”

Mr Rudkin represented the town on South Holland District Council until May and had held the chairman’s role between 2020 and 2021.

He had resigned from the parish council along with Carol in 2021 after becoming frustrated with the way the authority was run.

The couple were also involved with Holbeach in Bloom for more than 10 years.

Mr Rudkin said: “There say charity begins at home well there doesn't seem to be much charity with this.

“We have both worked for the community and all that money that I paid into the system is not helping me at all.

“I will get the invoice at the end of the month and will see If I can get some help with funding

He has spoken to friends in similar situations needing to find sums of £1,700 per week to fund care for their loved ones and told that Holbeach Meadows could cost £1,500 a week.

Living in an area with a high volume from the older generation he has also heard of a friend’s mother having to sell her house to fund care at £1,740 per week.

Mr Rudkin added: “I will finish up having to sell up what we've got to fund Carol’s care.

“I don’t hold out much hope and I have resigned myself to it.”

Martin Samuels, executive director of adult care and community wellbeing, said: “The rules around paying for care are set by government. Currently, anyone with savings of £23,250 or more is expected to cover the full cost of their care. In some circumstances, the value of a person’s home may also be taken into account.

“Once their savings fall below this threshold, the local authority will pick up responsibility for paying the fees, but people may still be expected to make a contribution towards the costs, based on their income.

“In contrast, in Scotland, personal care costs are covered by the state, though people may still need to make a substantial contribution to cover other elements, such as rent, food and utility bills if staying in a care home.

“It’s long been recognised at a national level that reform is needed, and there are plans to update the current thresholds and introduce an overall cap on care costs. These changes are currently expected to be introduced in October 2025.”

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