Sir Gerry Robinson - what needs changing in the UK Care Industry (Dementia Care)?

Sir Gerry Robinson has been described as one of the best businessmen in the UK, and whose career is depicted in wikipedia. He is credited in turning round Coca-Cola’s UK fortunes (£7m loss into £17m profit within 24 months); leading the then biggest management buyout of Compass from Grand Metropolitan (1987) and turning round Granada’s losses in 12 months to profits of 10% more than anticpated best expectations.

 In December 2009 Gerry Robinson did a couple of BBC TV documentaries on Dementia and Care Homes in the UK, highlighting the successful strategies and those which need attention. Robinson sees change in the care of dementia in the care industry to be a very slow process. It was a joint venture with The Open University, which has produced a booklet on Dementia Care.

Robinson reflects that as an entrepreneur, if one’s homes are full, meeting all the regulations, and are economically viable then why would you want to change it? Yet he sees the standards could easily be raised.

He identifies an excellent example of how best practice in Merevale Homes, adided by leading Dementia Specialist Consultancy ‘Dementia Care Matters‘, and also shows how quickly the environment can be changed forn the better in the example of Thornfield care home, which was transformed in just 4 months.

As an observer the issues for me are the dangers of working as a professional, i.e. a care industry business adviser. Working in these difficult conditions, under constant scrutiny from outside authorities and relatives highlights the risk of litigation, and just how vital is and just how enormously valuable is Business Adviser Professional Indemnity Insurance is for a consultant working in the Care Indsutry.