Direct payments pay for care dog

A disabled woman from Woking, Surrey, is understood to have become
the first person to receive a dog as part of their direct payments
care package.

The dog helps the woman with her care needs, prompting her to take
her medication, turning her over in bed, and helping her cross the
road. The “assistance dog”, which has been trained by the charity
Canine Partnership for Independence, can even help the woman
withdraw money from cash machines.

David Munro, executive member for adults and community care at
Surrey Council, which is paying for the dog’s upkeep under its
direct payment initiative, said: “We are firm believers that our
clients are in the best position to choose what is the best for
them. We take a flexible approach rather than a one-size-fits-all
solution.”