Rising prices offer food for thought to under-pressure care home professionals

The rising cost of fresh food could be about to impact on care homes across the country after a new report found breakfast is costing more than ever.

But care providers faced with spiralling food costs could be sitting on a small fortune — with thousands of pounds still to be claimed by victims of unscrupulous energy brokers.

Energy litigation specialists Energy Solicitors Limited (ESL) read this week’s survey centred on inflationary food prices with concern.

And ESL’s Victoria Myers said: “It’s just another example of the challenges care home providers and managers face when looking to balance their budget right now.

“Food inflation is nothing new but on top of an increase in National Insurance contributions (NICs) and the expected increase in energy bills it’s another unwelcome pressure.

“We can’t prevent inflation but we can offer industry-leading legal advice around potentially mis-sold energy contracts. The amounts of money we’re capable of recouping could significantly ease pressure on a care home’s monthly outgoings.”

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index, food prices rose at one of their fastest monthly rates in a year during February.

And there are no signs of a slowdown any time soon with social care one of several under-pressure sectors exposed to spiralling costs.

The price of breakfast staples eggs, butter and bread is rising — leading to fears that care homes across the country could be forced to cut back on one of the most important meals of the day.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Breakfast, in particular, got more expensive as butter, cheese, eggs, bread and cereals all saw price hikes. Climbing global coffee prices could threaten to push the morning costs higher in the coming months.

“While shop prices remained in deflation in February, prices on the month saw the biggest increase in the last year.”