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Friday, 08 June 2007
MP criticises KCC over changes to home care charges
Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate has criticised proposals by Kent County Council to increase its charges for home care services.

The new charging policy, which includes a proposal to increase the charging cap for home care services by £15 a week, has already been attacked by charities and home care services user groups in Kent. A number of home care service users in Dartford who contribute towards the cost of their care have also written to the MP to express their concern about the proposed changes.

“My worry is that by asking people in Kent to pay an extra £15 a week we will be making more difficult for local people to live independently. Either people will spend less in other areas in order to afford the extra charge - which cannot be good for their mental or physical well-being - or they will seek to do without home care services that they need,” said Dr Stoate.

The MP has now called on KCC to think again about its proposed changes. He has reminded the council that a number of other local authorities in England have actually chosen to remove home care charges in the last year in a bid to make it easier for people to continue to live independently.

The Isle of Wight Council for example is introducing a scheme whereby everyone over 80 who needs help is offered 6 weeks free care, after which they will only pay if they have savings of over £21,000. The council intends to extend the scheme to younger pensioners if it proves to be a success.

“Surely it is better to ensure that vulnerable people are given every possible chance to remain in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible, instead of having to resort to residential care. The cost to the council of paying for the home care of those who need it, so that they can continue to live independently, is also likely to be far less in the long-term than the cost of paying towards their residential care,” said the MP.

Notes

Kent County Council is proposing to increase from 65 to 85 the percentage of available income taken into account to work out a person’s charge and to raise the charging cap by £15 a week for people who already contribute towards the cost of their home care services.

Kent County Council was included in a list of councils published in the Daily Telegraph (25 May) with some of the highest proposed increases in home care charges in the country.  

According to Department of Health statistics for 2005-06 (The Information Centre for Health and Social care) Kent spent £86 on average each week on home care – per older person in receipt of home care – whilst its neighbouring county council authorities, Surrey, Essex, and East Sussex spent £143, £113 and £129 respectively.
 
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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