Double blow for care services (From Harrow Times)

Double blow for care services

10:23am Friday 27th July 2007 in

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THE adult care community have been dealt a double blow, with a reduction in care services and the introduction of day care charges.

These moves were approved by a special meeting of Harrow Council's cabinet on Wednesday night.

Above disgruntled cries of "disgraceful" and "rubbish" from members of the public, the cabinet voted unanimously in favour of withdrawing council-funded care for patients in "substantial risk", and also approved a £12 per day charge for day care centres in the borough.

Carers, MENCAP members and concerned members of the public packed out the committee room at the Civic Centre as the decision was made.

The move has angered people who fear that the most vulnerable in the community will suffer as a result.

Kay Craig, 81, who has a daughter in residential care, said: "It seems to me that a lot of consultation meetings have been held and the general feeling is that it's not a good idea.

"But they are going to do it anyway. They have listened, but they have not heard."

The change in Harrow's care status, downgrading from "critical and substantial" to "critical only", means that an estimated 492 people will lose their access to care.

They will have to rely on voluntary organizations and family for the support that they need.

At the meeting, members of the public were able to voice some of the concerns about the changes.

Marie-Louise Nolan, a representative from MENCAP, asked whether the £250,000 yearly grant to voluntary care organizations, agreed by cabinet, will be sufficient to cover the shortfall in care provision.

She said: "This figure seems to have been plucked out of the air. I don't think this money will be enough and it's not clear where it will go. How will they decide how much money is given to which organizations?"

The Conservative members on the cabinet defended the changes as undesirable but necessary to balance the social care budget.

Cllr Paul Osborn said: "We are not happy about this, but we are determined to make the decisions that we need to make to get the council back on its feet."

The cabinet approved provisions for assessment reviews for all service users, a month's notice for any changes made and only those who can afford the day care charges will pay.

Cllr Eric Silver, adult services portfolio holder, said: "We have responded to the need to protect the most vulnerable and we will be maintaining a free service for 70 per cent of the people who attend day centres."

MENCAP has pledged to continue to campaign against the changes.

Deven Pillay, chief executive of Harrow MENCAP, said: "Although the council has promised to set up a monitoring group, we will be monitoring the review and assessment processes ourselves very carefully."

Pledging to continue to oppose the cuts in services, Mr Pillay said: "I believe that the council is attacking the most vulnerable in our community, especially people with learning disabilities who are already discriminated against.

"It can be said though that people with learning disabilities and their carers aren't vote catchers."

The cabinet decision will come into effect on September 1 this year.