Care Plea Over Proposed Cuts

A leading care charity has called on elderly and vulnerable people across East Lancashire to voice their concerns over proposed social services cuts.

Hundreds of people across Lancashire are also set to see their care packages end after a task group rubberstamped a series of cuts, which were first unveiled six months ago. Currently Lancashire County Council provides social care services for people with moderate, substantial and critical needs.

But proposed county hall cutbacks would see the moderate banding eliminated and vulnerable and elderly residents living in Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, reassessed by social services. Council leaders say a significant minority’ of senior citizens and people with physical and learning disabilities would then qualify as having substantial’ needs.

But the moves, which would produce considerable savings for the council, could also leave hundreds of care users having to fend for themselves in future without help to carry out everyday tasks.

Steve Moon, a spokesman for Crossroads Association, the carers charity, said: “We are very concerned about what is happening and we would urge anybody who feels their services are being removed inappropriately to go through whatever channels they can to express their views.”

An Age Concern spokesman said:”Increasing charges and tightening eligibility for care is short-sighted and will have a major impact on the health of older people in Lancashire. Any decision by Lancashire County Council to reduce services will have hit the quality of life of vulnerable and unwell older people, but it will also be felt by the taxpayers of Lancashire.

“Reducing preventative, low-level services means that older people will end up needing expensive and intensive care treatment in a care home or in hospital much sooner than they otherwise would. Lancashire County Council must rethink their proposal.”

An ageing population, advances in medical care and changes to the way social services are funded have all been cited as reasons behind the changes.The fair access to care’ issue has been reviewed by a seven-strong county council task group who ratified the cuts.

However they are insisting that before any service reductions are put in place, viable alternatives can be identified within the voluntary and charity sectors. Local information gateways’ – call centres which can offer recommendations about other provisions – will be established.

The move comes after Lancashire County Council abandoned plans to replace its meals on wheels service with deliveries of frozen meals to save money. Instead it increased charges to £3.20 per meal.

Coun Tom Burns, who chairs the task group, says in a report: “Everybody would like to be able to meet the care needs of all our members of society. However the financial reality means that this simply isn’t possible and tough choices have to be made.”