Day care transport charges in Badenoch and Strathspey slammed

HIGHLAND Council’s introduction of charges to transport the elderly to day care centres and lunch clubs in Badenoch and Strathspey has been branded “disgusting” and “diabolical”.

The 50p charge per person per journey was brought in on August 10 in a bid to contribute towards tackling the £3.4 million deficit in the local authority’s social work budget for this financial year.

But the region-wide move has been condemned as hitting the most vulnerable in society, who, campaigners have pointed out, are entitled to free bus travel across Scotland.

There are also claims that charges in the strath were backdated to the introductory date, despite some clients not receiving the correspondence outlining the charges from social services bosses until several days after August 10.

A 65-year-old Kingussie man, who did not want to be named, said: “I am disgusted that Highland Council is inclined to recoup the black hole in their finances by taking 50p per trip off the very vulnerable.

“I think it is a diabolical thing to do, and another way to stop people from using the Wade Centre in the town.

“Those affected are not going to speak out. My mother will be 92 years old next birthday. As far as I am concerned, it is people who have done their bit who are now being hit.

“It’s one thing after another; the council has already increased the cost of their home help alarm service from £2.22 to £5 per week. They are creating a situation where those that need them are not going to have them.

“My mother can afford to pay, but I bet there are a lot of people for whom all these 50p pieces will add up and they will have to go without.

“The Scottish Government want to keep people in their own homes and living independently for as long as possible, but here we have a local authority enforcing stupid measures.”

Rev Helen Cook, of Kingussie-based POST (Protect Our Services Today), said: “These people have got bus passes entitling them to free travel, so why on earth should they be charged?”

The costs apply to those being transported by the council to attend any council day care unit or residential care facility, including the Wade Centre, the Glen Centre in Aviemore and Grant House in Grantown, and are collected by staff at the facility.

Outlining the move to users, Highland Council’s acting social work manager for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Frances Gair, said: “The council is facing a substantial budgetary shortfall. The social work service is undertaking a range of measures in order to maintain services, and this includes raising the charges for some services.

“As part of that process, it has been decided to charge for the provision of transport to a day care or residential care facility.”

She added: “This does not cover the full cost of transport, but is a contribution to this cost.”

The initial correspondence was dated July 21, but there are claims that it did not arrive until August 12 and the charges were backdated.

Those who tried to contact social services bosses to discuss the issue were told that they were ‘not available’, according to POST members.

Mr Dave Fallows, Highland councillor for Badenoch and Strathspey, is asking for an explanation for what he described as an “apparent undue delay” and an assurance that people will not be pursued for charges prior to receipt of the letter.

Fellow local councillor Stuart Black said that the local authority was now facing some tough decisions because of the Council Tax freeze agreed by the former administration, which mean that extra funds could not be raised.

Increased demand on services, particularly for older people and those with learning disabilities, has left Highland Council’s social work department facing a £3.4 million overspend.

More money than expected has been spent on modernising care homes to meet Care Commission requirements.

The employment of relief staff and overtime working due to staff vacancies and illness is also adding to the projected overspend on the care homes budget.

Other pressures include managing delayed discharges and an unexpected doubling in the costs of supporting people with learning disabilities, particularly in providing individual care packages.

A report recently presented to the council’s social work committee also blamed the cost of providing services to an ageing population and what it describes as “higher public expectations of public-sector service delivery”.