As reported previously http://tinyurl.com/previous-care-article the Council is planning to withdraw care support from 160 mainly elderly residents living in York.

The latest figures issued by the Council (see right) confirm that the numbers seeking care support actually fell last year.

Despite this, the Councillor responsible for the service has been quoted in the media as saying care costs will increase by £3.7 million next year!

Residents will want to know where that figure has come from?

The Councils budget -agreed in February – forecast that removing care support from people with “moderate” needs would save £270,000 over 2 years.

A year ago the Council had embarked on a project which would have seen the techniques and efficiencies, applied by private sector providers, extended to all users. The effects of this programme (mainly affecting home care and the “enablement” service which helps former hospital patients become self sufficient) have not been reported back to residents.

In York, the majority of care users already choose the private sector to supply their needs (the Council having assessed an individuals needs, provides a budget to cover the costs. The customer can then either choose a Council or independent sector Care provider).

Now a “consultation” on the changes to eligibility criteria has begun. http://tinyurl.com/Eligible-in-York

Unfortunately it seems unlikely that many who are affected will complete an “on line” survey and if they do, with so many unanswered questions, the value of the exercise is questionable.