Kent Elderly to pay more for Domestic Help

Despite being able to increase the Budget for Adult Services for 2007/2008 by some 5%, Tory Kent County Council are raising the charges for some of the most vulnerable people in the County.

At the Adult Services Policy Overview Committee on 1 February 2007 the Tory administration spelled out their plans for next year's budget which includes saving some £628,000 by increasing Domiciliary Care Charges.

When challenged as to how they were going to achieve this saving they admitted that they had not worked out details but expect that approximately 66% (5,000) of current recipients would have to pay more.

Labour Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Leslie Christie, and Member for North fleet and Gravesend West said:-

“Adult Services has a budget of almost £273 million but apparently the Tories cannot find anywhere else to save this 0.2% of the budget. The users of this service are amongst the most vulnerable in the County and deserve at their stage of life to be able to live with some dignity. They will now be priced out of this market and even more responsibility will fall on the already stretched families and carers. KCC Tories weep crocodile tears when they criticise Government for alleged lack of care for the elderly and then they do this. You can’t get much more hypocritical than the Tories.”

Contact: Leslie Christie – Spokesperson for Labour Group and Member for Northfleet and Gravesend West.