Elderly and Disabled Face Further Upheaval as New Eligibility Criteria Imposed
February 14, 2003 12:00 AM
Yet more new eligibility criteria will hit the elderly and disabled.
Councillor Mark Harris, Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council, has described the introduction of new eligibility criteria for services provided by the Council's Social Services Department as "yet another blow for the most disadvantaged members of the community."
Cllr Harris said "The Government isn't satisfied with just introducing a new set of charges for the elderly with their 'Unfair Charges' scheme. Now they want the Council to re-assess every single person who is entitled to 'Adult Social Care' services, services designed to help people live as full and independent life as possible. The Council cannot even make an accurate assessment of the cost implications, because of the Government's actions over recent months."
"That is because that while the Council has been undertaking a pilot project in West Leeds, in order to work out the implications of the 'Fair Access to Care Services' requirements, the Government has changed the criteria three times during this trial - making the results virtually worthless!
"The Government should allow local councils the maximum flexibility to ensure local people receive the services they deserve and need. Now is not the time to try and limit those vital care services."
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