06/03/2014
Those who rely on the home care services provided by Nottinghamshire County Council may soon find themselves with fewer choices about their service providers. Lee Flowers, who is 34 years old and disabled, is one of the residents who requires care at home provision and whose care is paid for by direct payments from the council. He is one of approximately 300 users, made up of elderly, disabled and other vulnerable groups who are set to be affected by this change, which from April will lower the number of providers from the 30 it currently uses to only about six.
Mr Flowers has initiated a petition to prevent the merger of two areas, Mansfield and Ashfield, which will mean they will only have one service provider. He argues that many people have not been consulted about the plans and may not realise the effects on their home care service until it is too late. While Mr Flowers is able to make his own care decisions, he worries about those who are very frail or suffering from dementia having to make this kind of decision, especially if they have no family to support them.
The e-petition is located at www.ipetitions.com/petition/changes-to-home-care-will-it-effect-you and Mr Flowers is keen to spread the word and gather support.
Providers of home care in the Nottingham area have also sent out a warning to people, advising them that these plans could involve major changes in their lives and asking them to put their concerns in writing. Small businesses that currently provide care will lose out to larger companies, as only large bids from companies with an annual turnover of £4 to 8 million are to be accepted.
Nottinghamshire County Council defended the proposals, and denied that they were set to threaten quality of care, arguing that using fewer providers in a set location will enable better care. Councillor Muriel Weisz stated that it makes good sense to use providers who can deliver high volumes in terms of services, and to fill the gaps in areas where home care support services are lacking.
Mr Flowers argues that service users will suffer by being unable to change their service provider if they become unhappy with the service, and that those who cannot manage direct payments will have no choice in their home care provision. Those who wish to keep their current care workers may be unable to do so as their carers may not wish to transfer to a new company. Should the new company fail, the current providers will already have been alienated by the council, who are cutting costs by transferring care services to a few large national companies. According to Mr Flowers, the new contracts will mean larger companies with too much power, which will lead to a reduction in the quality of care. They may also cause distress to those who suffer with dementia and who rely on consistency in their care.
