Northumberland care charge revolt looms
Jun 23 2009 by David Black, The Journal
“I was totally shocked at what he is being asked to pay, and that is before they have even looked at his savings. Sammy is adamant he is not going to pay this, and that is just going to put a bigger burden on me as his carer.
“I believe a lot of elderly people will drop out of going to day centres, not because they can’t afford the charges but because of the principle.”
Widow Jane Wood, 68, travels from her home in Wooler, where she lives alone, to meet friends once a week at the St John Ambulance day centre in Berwick. Following assessment, she has now been told she will have to pay £31 per session, instead of the previous £2.50 she paid for her lunch. She said: “I am seriously considering stopping going because it doesn’t seem fair that just because I receive pension credit they are going to start taking some of it off me. I don’t believe I will be the only person thinking of not going because of these charges.”
Sheila Lambert, the St John Ambulance deputy county executive officer for Northumbria, said: “We are concerned for our day care clients and some have been in tears over this. There is very little we can do about it, however, as these are financial assessments done by the Care Trust.’’
The latest in a series of public meetings on the day care centre closues will be held tonight at Haltwhistle Methodist Church. There will be another one tomorrow at Amble Social Club, Bede Street; Thursday at The Salvation Army, Hartford Road West, Bedlington, and Friday at the Isabella Centre, Ogle Drive, Blyth. All will start at 6pm.
