CARERS are being urged to stand up against Worcestershire County Council cuts
Calls to contest council’s carer cash cuts
19 August. Updated: 19 August 00:18
CARERS are being urged to stand up against Worcestershire County Council after its decision to increase social care charges.
Maureen Rickards, of Rubery, and Margaret Strong, of Barnt Green, were among those to express their anger at the proposals.
Margaret, who cares for her 94-year-old father, told us: “The council won’t listen to the carers until we come out in force because we are lonely, isolated people in dots around the country.”
The proposed changes are aimed at saving more than £2million, as part of the council’s overall target of saving £60 to £70million by 2015.
But the 61-year-old, who said she received no financial help from the state, said ‘vulnerable carers’ were actually saving the council money because they were keeping their loved ones out of nursing homes, which she claimed could cost around £800-a-week.
Maureen, who takes her 71-year-old husband to the specialist Leighton House twice a week, said she would also be hit hard if the subsidies were cut.
The former primary school teacher is seen as being financially capable, which would see her charges rise from £9.20 for two days a week to £95.
She said: “I don’t mind paying the full amount, but to pay ten times more is a bit much.
“They don’t take into consideration the bigger picture.”
As well as paying for the care home, Maureen said she had also had to pay for a number of other costs to go towards her husband’s care, which she believes the council has not taken into account. These include a £6,000 stair lift, a £600 scooter and a £300 wheelchair.
A consultation is now running until the end of September to seek service users’ opinions on the changes to charges.
Questionnaires have been sent to 3,500, asking them to tick one of four options – to introduce all charges in April 2012, or over two, three or four years.
A Worcestershire County Council spokeswoman said: “All responses will be fully considered to help inform us to decide when the changes should take place, be it from next year or more gradually.”
She urged those wanting to have their say to visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk
The spokeswoman also claimed not only would its decision to stop subsidising services only hit 23 per cent of service users, but eight per cent would see their charges actually fall.
She added only those financially assessed as able to afford rises would see their charges go up.
