Dorset councils defend fees for adult social care

LOCAL councils have defended adult social care fees, amid claims the system is “not fit for purpose” and is failing elderly people.

Analysis of data from a selection of English councils shows many fees, including meals on wheels and transport to day centres, have soared over the past year.

And it has prompted accusations of a “postcode lottery” with fees varying wildly depending on which part of the country you live in.

Cllr David Rogers, chair of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: “These results highlight what we already know. The current social care system is not fit for purpose. It is underfunded and in need of urgent reform.”

Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset councils have all altered their fee structures recently.

However, the authorities are claiming its policy is fair with only those that can afford to pay more being asked to do so. In Bournemouth, the fee for personal care is £13.95 an hour – fractionally above the national average of £13.49.

This charge has stayed the same over the last 18 months and prior to this, was slightly more expensive.

Their price for meals on wheels is £4.10 per meal – a price that has been unaltered for three years.

Tim Branson, service manager, said: “We have worked hard to keep the cost of adult social care services as reasonable as possible.

“For example, in 2010 we carried out an intensive review of all of our domiciliary care contracts ensuring that residents receive the best possible service at the most affordable price.

“We have been fortunate in Bournemouth that we have so far been able to either hold or reduce costs to service users.”

The Borough of Poole changed its fee structure a year ago and claims this has resulted in four out of five users either paying the same or paying less.

Its decision resulted in Margaret Russell, the wife of a 79-year-old man with dementia, protesting to David Cameron after being told she would have to find an extra £800 a month for her husband to go to a day centre.

Introducing the new scheme, Cllr Peter Adams said people who could afford it would pay more but that the alternative was restricting or withdrawing services.

Dorset County Council introduced a £22.40 a day charge at its day centres last July for people with savings over £23,500 – a service that had previously been free.

A council spokesperson said there were no plans to increase charges but that they were keeping everything under review.