MP angry at cuts that hit Northumberland elderly

Posted by The Journal on Feb 3, 10 09:08 AM in Councils

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell A veteran Labour MP has accused council bosses in Northumberland of seeking the easy way out by targeting elderly and disabled people when making tough budget cuts.

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell is writing to Liberal Democrat leaders at County Hall and asking them to "stop hitting" the elderly population of the county.

He says the recent announcement the council is axing a scheme which provides cut-price taxi travel for hundreds of pensioners who are unable to use buses is the latest in a damaging series of cost-cutting measures affecting older people.

Last year the new Lib Dim administration increased the maximum weekly charge for home care by 50% - from ÃÂ£60 to ÃÂ£90 - and introduced charges for day centre care for the first time.

It also sparked widespread anger by agreeing to close seven council-run day care centres for the elderly as part of moves to give people personal budgets to spend as they choose on getting out and about.

The council's 2010/11 budget plans include ÃÂ£5.8m worth of savings in services for elderly and disabled people - including a ÃÂ£1.2m reduction in the highest cost care packages, a review of people's care needs and the closure of residential homes in Haltwhistle and Hexham.

Last week The Journal revealed how the authority also plans to trim ÃÂ£70,000 by getting rid of the taxi tokens scheme for frail pensioners who can't access public transport. Mr Campbell said the council had tried to blame Government policy for some of the decisions - such as the closure of day centres - or claimed they had no choice in others.

"They have always had a choice and, unfortunately, their choices have hit the elderly hardest of all, and time after time they look for the easy way out."

He said the administration had recently dropped a number of savings because of protests from the public and staff. "The elderly aren't screaming loud enough or they would be afraid to touch their services," he added.

Sean Fahey, Northumberland-based secretary of the North East Pensioners' Association, said Mr Campbell was reflecting the feelings of many elderly people. "I am aware of the budget problems facing the council, but if there is to be a squeeze does it have to be on those least able to look after themselves?

"There is a profound sense of disappointment that it is to be the old people hit again."

Yesterday Coun Simon Reed, executive member for adult care, rejected Mr Campbell's claim that the council was penalising elderly people unfairly.

He said: "After the schools budget, the biggest chunk of our spending goes on adult care, so it is always going to look as though there is a lot of money coming out of that.

"What we are trying to do is modernise and transform adult care services for the 21st Century, but that doesn't mean people's needs will not be met. There is no way forward for the council under the current system, and we have got to change ways of doing things.

"This was a process started by the Labour Government.

"There is not a bottomless pit of money and we have to make sure we get the balance right between people's needs and what we can afford."

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