CARERS in Derby say plans to slash funding for services they use by £500,000 will cost the city council far more in the long term.

Vita Snowden, of the campaign group Protect Derby Carers’ Services, said many of the city’s 5,000 carers would be unable to cope if their support services were forced to fold as a result of the cuts.

And that, she claimed, would leave the council having to take on responsibility for the care of thousands more vulnerable adults.

Ms Snowden said: “The council thinks it is saving money by cutting carers’ services but it will end up spending much more.

“It costs the council approximately £26,000 per year to pay for one person to live in a care home. The amount it is looking to cut over the next three is the same as the amount it would cost them to look after 20 adults.

“There are 5,000 carers looking after loved ones in Derby. If they cannot cope, thousands more adults will have to go into care homes. It will cost the council millions more.”

Services the council currently fund for carers include advice sessions and short breaks.

Littleover carer Amran Ashraf, who quit his job to look after three family members, said he was worried about the proposed cuts.

He said: “In the summer I was having to care for my mother, brother and sister and I was at breaking point.

“Then someone referred me to some of the carers’ services run in Derby and all that changed considerably.

“If those services that have helped me didn’t exist, I would be walking away saying, ‘I can’t do this any more’.

“Without these services I would guess around a third of the 5,000 carers in Derby would be unable to cope.”

Derby City Council says it needs to save £63 million by 2016, due to it receiving less Government funding.

It has published its draft budget for the next three years and has invited the public to have their say before final plans are announced.

Councillor Fareed Hussain, cabinet member for adults and health, denied carers would be left without services.

He said: “Like all local authorities, Derby City Council has very difficult decisions to make about allocations of its resources. The council is consulting on its proposed budget strategy and it is very important that we hear the opinions of carers and any other groups who feel they may be affected.

“The proposed reduction in funding over the next three years would still leave a significant amount of support for carers in place and we have tried to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.

“This would include short breaks, support, advice, information, emergency planning and other important areas. It is nevertheless understandable that carers will be concerned about a reduction in funding and want to respond to the consultation, which ends on January 4.”

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/