Tories press on with new £200pa charge for vulnerable residents
Liberal Democrat Councillors ‘called in’ the Mayor’s decision to charge residents for Telecare services from October at last night’s Adults’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee (15th July). This was an attempt to stop the implementation of fees for the service.
Despite Liberal Democrat councillors pointing out the distress that charges would cause residents, Conservative and Labour councillors voted through the decision with ‘no concerns’.
Councillor Christine McHugh commented, ‘Telecare is precisely the kind of preventative care that is needed to help residents retain their independence benefitting not just the residents but the council too. We believe it represents a false economy. I know from residents that I have spoken to, that there are 80-year-olds returning home from hospital waiting 10 weeks or 12 weeks for a visit from Occupational Therapists. The proposal to have free Telecare for 6 weeks only following discharge from hospital is not enough.’
Councillor Hilde Hendrickx said, ‘This is a shameful decision. I have been contacted by residents in my ward who have told me that they are extremely worried and upset about the proposed charges. Charging for access to Telecare services targets the most vulnerable in society and will have a particularly detrimental impact on the poorest vulnerable people.’