Complaint
This edition included a report on plans to close a council-run old people鈥檚 home. A viewer complained it failed to accurately reflect the cost, condition and management of the home and provided insufficient context. The ECU considered whether it met the standards for due accuracy set out in the 91福利社鈥檚 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The programme reported on West Sussex County Council鈥檚 decision to stop providing residential care services for older people living with dementia at the New Tyne home in Worthing.
The introduction explained the council said it was cheaper to move residents to privately run homes and the decision to close the home had been upheld by a separate council committee despite opposition from families and staff. The reporter went on to provide further information on the council鈥檚 financial justification for closing the home. The report also included contributions from relatives and a union representative explaining their objections.
In the ECU鈥檚 judgement the report gave a clear sense of the council鈥檚 reasoning and its view that moving residents would save money at a time of financial pressure. Additional detail about why other homes appeared to be cheaper than New Tyne might have added to the audience鈥檚 understanding, but its absence did not mean those watching were materially misled.
Not Upheld