Butcher slams cut in elderly carer times as being 'heartless'

Sinn Fein Councillor Paddy Butcher says the cuts, implemented by a new directive under the Domesticity Care scheme, would seriously impact on the level of care received by the elderly. Labelled the move as "heartless" Councillor Butcher said: "Last week all home help staff in the northwest were ordered to cut visits to the elderly to a maximum of thirty minutes. Irrespective of the length of the visit this is all they will now be paid for. This directive was verbally communicated by supervisors without public consultation or any impact assessment being carried out. One carer who contacted me at the weekend said an average visit would take between 45 minutes to one hour. She had asked her supervisor how she could possibly prepare and serve a meal within 30 minutes and she was told "cut the spuds small and feed them bacon." This makes a mockery of the fine aspirations of open and transparent planning published in the WHSC "A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR OLDER PEOPLE'S CARE AND ACCOMMODATION IN THE WESTERN AREA 2007 – 2017"

"When challenged on the reason for the measure the supervisor explained it was to finance debts incurred after the merger of the original Foyle Trust and Sperrin Lakeland Trust. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable sections of our society. Sometimes a visit from a carer is the only contact they have with the outside world. In addition to preparing a meal the carer may have to bath the person, light a fire, run a message or just make time to have a chat and a cup of tea. This draconian measure is heartless and directed at the front line of service delivery which is the last place to introduce cost cutting measures. Culling the layers of non productive bureaucracy would be a more effective initiative. The carers I have spoken to are particularly angry about the underhand method by which it was introduced without any consultation and putting all the responsibility on them to explain the new arrangement to the patient. Both assured me that whether they were being paid for it or not they would continue to spend as much time as it takes to deliver the service.

"Our older population in the Western Board area is growing." continued Cllr Butcher "From 2007 to 2017 the number of people aged over 65 years is estimated to increase by 34% and the over 85 years population is predicted to rise by 45%. These increases will lead to changes in the level of demand for services and requirements for different types of services particularly from people aged 85 years and over living in the Limavady, Derry and Strabane District Council areas. The underhand way in which these cuts were introduced without any consultation is particularly upsetting and demands an independent public enquiry. Until that is completed this directive should be suspended with immediate effect."

In response to Councillor Butcher's statement a Western Trust spokesperson said changes were being made to reduce an over expenditure of 2.7million but refuted any claims of a drop in the level of care received by clients.

The spokesperson said: "The Trust gave no such directive, as cited, in relation to the type of meals provided for patients / clients. The Trust aims to provide meals as informed by the assessed need of the patient / client and an individual's preference where possible. The Western Trust receives a budget of approximately 20million per year to spend on domiciliary care. At the end of December 2009, this budget was overspent by 2.7million and the Trust is seeking to reduce this over expenditure by 250,000 between the start of February 2010 and 31 March 2010."

"Given this, the Trust is currently providing domiciliary care to those assessed as having critical levels of risk / need. All domiciliary care provision remains under continual review to ensure a consistent approach to all clients to make sure the resources available are targeted towards those with greatest need, in keeping with the Regional Access Criteria for domiciliary care."

"We would ask for the public to support Western Trust staff, who have been working hard to provide services to patients and clients in this very challenging financial environment. The Trust remains committed to ensuring that those most in need receive an appropriate service and will continue to lobby for additional resources to meet the increasing needs of older people.

"Due to patient/client confidentially the Trust cannot comment on an individual's care package or assessed need. A patient/client or relative with a concern should contact their assigned key worker."