Wiltshire Council consults with service users over care rationing

Wiltshire Council is to launch a major consultation with service users over plans to ration social care and cut the costs of transporting people to day services.

The council’s cabinet approved proposals on Tuesday from its department of adult and community services to limit transport to day services for older people and those with learning difficulties, as it looks to cut its £2.2 million annual transport budget.

The news follows last week’s revelation that it is stopping direct payments  stopping direct payments to 114 disabled people for leisure opportunities

The council is tackling a projected £7 million funding shortfall in adult care caused by increased demand for services and the withdrawal of local NHS bodies from joint funding.

As part of its efforts it is also reviewing everyone with a care package using new stricter eligibility criteria approved in May. 

The consultation will include 16 events across the county, and a final report based on its findings will be presented to the council cabinet in September.

The council has not decided yet to close any day centres or cut jobs, but it may issue staff with letters telling them they are at risk of redundancy.

Mary Douglas, Wiltshire’s cabinet member for adult and community services, said she was aware of concerns about the changes.

“We are keen to modernise our services and help people be part of their local community,” she added. “We want the people who use our services to help us to do just that.”

 

 

 

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