The Government says it notes the statement issued by the GSD today regarding LifeCome Care, the company contracted by the Government following a tender process for the provision of Domiciliary Care and Home Support services. 

A statement continued: “While it is not unusual for there to be teething issues arising from a TUPE transfer, the Government considers it entirely unacceptable that some employees of LifeCome Care were not paid on their agreed pay date. 

“The Government, through the Care Agency, has been actively engaged in ongoing discussions with LifeCome Care to assist them in addressing these initial challenges. Both the Minister for Health and Care, Gemma Arias-Vasquez, and the CEO of the Care Agency, Carlos Banderas, had received assurances from LifeCome Care that that all employees of theirs would be paid on their agreed pay date of 5th November 2024. 

“HMGoG expects LifeCome Care to uphold its contractual obligations to the Care Agency and is prepared to take any necessary action should these obligations not be met. The Government, however, has been informed by LifeCome Care that all employees have now been paid and that corrections will be made promptly for any discrepancies regarding the amounts paid. 

“It is unfortunate that Ms Sanchez and the GSD have chosen to exploit this situation for political gain by issuing a public statement that exaggerates the circumstances instead of reaching out directly to the relevant Minister with her concerns. Had she done so, she would have been reassured that, to the best of the Government’s knowledge, all employees of LifeCome Care have indeed been paid. Ms Sanchez is aware that each and every time she has reached out to the Minister, Minister Arias- Vasquez has always worked with her for the public good. 

"Finally, as Ms Sanchez knows, the Government has considerably increased investment in Domiciliary Care and Home Support services, which now costs nearly £4 million a year and supports over 500 individuals and their families. This represents a substantial increase compared to the GSD’s allocation of £750,000 for domiciliary care in 2011/12.”