Tory charges to elderly and disabled is unfair (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Tory charges to elderly and disabled is unfair

August 18, 2004 1:00 PM

The Conservative Cabinet at Swindon Borough Council will impose a 670% hike in charges to the most vulnerable sectors of our community who rely on non-residential care. Day Care services will rise from 65p a day to £5.00 a day from October.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Chris Shepherd (Freshbrook & Grange Park) said:

"These heartless rises to 900 disabled people and elderly folk who are not claiming full benefits from the state is quite sickening.

"Having worked hard and contributed throughout their life, elderly people deserve to receive our care. We in the Liberal Democrats believe personal nursing care should be free. The Liberal Democrats have introduced free care for the elderly in Scotland - the same should be applied to the vulnerable old and disabled in England as well.

"Thousands of elderly people in Swindon are seeing their life savings ebb away to pay for personal care from this nasty Tory Council. The current system of targeting the old and frail is unfair and unprincipled.

Tories ask confusing questions

In a survey of 1,600 users and carers only 202 responses were received back by Swindon's failing Social Services department. The survey included the following question: Is it fairer to set the charge for day care at £8 and leave the proportion of disposable income used to pay for care at 80% or set the charge at £5 and increase the proportion used to 90%

Lib Dem Chris Shepherd concluded:

"This has to be the most confusing question asked in the record of consultation exercises at the Council. I find the question difficult to comprehend, so how would an 80-year-old Swindon resident who enjoys the company of his peers at a Day Centre feel. This question clearly fails the "Plan English test". It is despicable that the Tories are asking our vulnerable residents such a confusing question. Conservatives are always keen to tell us that charity begins in the home... well this is evidence that they don't think it starts in our Care Homes."

Earlier in 2004 Swindon's Tory Council voted to close two Care Homes in the Borough. This report follows an announcement from Government Inspectors that Swindon's Social Services is failing elderly people for the second year in a row.