Care homes 'risk bankruptcy' due to NI rises

A leading care association in the west is warning some residential homes may go under due to rising costs such as National Insurance (NI) and the national living wage.

David Smallacombe, chief executive of not-for-profit organisation Care and Support West, says many care home operators will be forced to raise prices for vulnerable residents.

He is calling on the government to exempt social care providers from the NI hike, as it already has for the public sector and NHS.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was working towards building a National Care Service "that is fair and affordable for all".