Social Service cuts ‘callous’

10:23am Thursday 25th January 2007

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PLANS to restrict services such as home care, meals on wheels and the right to own a blue badge have been dismissed as "callous".

In a bid to save over £7million within adult social services over the next three years, plans put forward by the council would see the reorganisation of the eligibility criteria which decides whether or not people in need receive care.

This would mean that many people who receive crucial services, which also include access to lifeline panic buttons, respite care and day care, could lose out under the new criteria, putting hospitals and care homes under even more pressure.

Labour councillor Filly Maravala blasted the plans, saying: "There is only one word that comes to mind, callous. They are targeting the most vulnerable people in our society."

Currently people who may require care are assessed as being within one of four levels of need: critical, substantial, moderate and low.

The council cares for people within the critical and substantial criteria, but under the new proposals, currently the subject of a public consultation, the substantial category would be split.

This would mean that only those who fall into the new greater substantial area would receive care.

Those falling into the lesser substantial category would fall by the wayside.

For example, the people who would lose out may: lNot appear to be at direct risk of abuse or neglect lNot live alone lHave experienced "some deterioration in health" as opposed to a "significant deterioration".

Northamptonshire Council is one authority that has already agreed to the new criteria, but Mark Major, Director of Northamptonshire Carers, said early indications suggest the alterations "do not make sense and will not be cost effective."

He said: "If we are not allowed to do the preventative work with people they will slip into decline.

"This will end up with more people needing residential care and more people in our hospitals.

"That, combined with the pressures currently facing hospitals across the country, means this is very worrying."

The council is proposing to save £7.6million over the next three years within social services as a direct result of the change in eligibility criteria.

Opposition councillors have attacked the ruling Conservatives for pushing on with controversial plans, such as a new 50-metre swimming pool and the Ilford Town centre redevelopment, while making cuts within social services.

Continued from page one Cllr Maravala said: "If you ask the people to make a choice between changing the goalposts (within social services) and paying for the swimming pool, I think I know which most would chose.

"They (the Conserva tives) have lost the will to direct this authority in any effective way, if they ever had it."

The council has blamed a low Government grant given over to outer London boroughs this year for its plans to make the cuts.

Cllr Sue Nolan, cabinet member for adult social services, said: "This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and I put this forward with a very heavy heart.

"It really does break my heart, but there is no money in the kitty and we have nowhere else to go."

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