Tories Slash Budgets - Older People Hit
July 23, 2004 4:48 PM
Bromley Tories are wielding their axe to local services once again - this time hitting older people
Cuts totalling over £2 million were agreed by Bromley Council at a meeting on Tuesday. Services for older people in Bromley will be severely hit by the decision, which follows cuts made by the Tory Council last month in Day Centre places and the closure of the Rachel Notley Day Centre.
"The old and frail are being targeted by Bromley Council," claims Cllr Chris Maines, "because they need to spend money on rescuing the children's services deemed as 'unsafe' by the Government earlier this year."
Bromley Social Services are tightening the eligibility criteria to reduce the numbers of elderly people who receive services. The decision will be implemented immediately with some elderly people losing between 1 and 3 hours of care per day, more severe cuts will hit new clients in need of support.
It is envisaged that voluntary groups in Bromley will take over the provision of some services and will provide advice to elderly people to buy services from the private sector, if they can afford them.
Chris Maines says the Tory cuts will hit older people living locally.
"These are panic measures," says Liberal Democrat spokesman Cllr Chris Maines,
"there is no evidence that the voluntary sector have the capacity to take on these services and no guarantees private providers will have the relevant police checks or training to provide the sort of care older people should be able to expect."
National guidelines for care provide a framework of four categories in which people at risk are placed. Bromley Council will now only support the top two categories, critical and substantial.
Bromley Council has a zero stars rating for Social Services, if we compare this decision with the services provided by Councils with three stars you appreciate what a raw deal local residents will be getting." says Cllr Maines.
Liberal Democrat councillors claim the cuts are short-sighted and will result in further expenditure, they believe the failure to support some people will accelerate a deterioration in their condition which will then require more expensive care packages.
"There is a total disregard for the quality of life that many older people will now experience." said Cllr Maines following the meeting.
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