The attempt by Medway Conservatives to try and spin the reasons for Care Home cuts as being somehow beneficial to the elderly is low by even their standards.
The Timetable for cuts is now all but certain:
- 8th December 2011 - Consultation begins with service users until early February
- 26th January 2011 - Health and ASC Overview & Scrutiny Committee debate the paper. Tory-led committee will vote it through.
- 14th February 2011 - Cabinet consider the outcome and will rubber stamp the Tory position; despite objections from stakeholders
We know how Tories treat consultation exercises - Cabinet member Tom Mason made clear over the summer that Consultations would be 'binned' and ignored. Ironically over the Dartford Crossing tolls (which was a u-turn!).
We can all remember the Primary School closures which saw the Tories close good schools on the back of dodgy statistics.
There is a meeting tommorrow night to discuss the closures at the Corn Exchange in Rochester from 6.30-9.00pm.
There are however some simple truths. It is clear that there remain significant numbers of people with physical disabilities and an increasingly ageing and single population and that the reduction in numbers in Balfour, Robert Bean, Platters Farm and Nelson Court is not related to demand which we know is present.
We know that the number of elderly people is increasing as a result of demographics, but is instead about the erosion of eligibility.
The Tory spin, and it is spin, is that this is all about improving customer choice. It is total fiction.
The Council is facing unprecendented cuts from central government to the tune of 28% over four years. This is a no mean endeavour in good times but add in the fiscal incompetence of Councillor Jarrett and the Tory mugs who run the Council, we also have a current budget shortfall of £5.1m on revenue budgets and £2.8m on capital spend.
The Tories have utterly mismanaged the Council books and as result we are witnessing these cuts.
From my estimates and budget analysis the 'outsourcing' of residential care services will deliver 'efficiencies' (or service degredation) to the tune of £1m per annum.
Reduction in numbers?
I know several consituents who were prevously eligible to attend the centre who were rejected because they became ineligible. The fact is we know the Tories need to make up the budget shortfall. We know they have cut services and rejecting users would be a reason.
The Tories this blog suspects and alleges have made it increasingly hard for members of the public to use the facility so reducing attending numbers to the point it could justify closure.
And what is to happen to the Balfour specialist units?
The Balfour site is occupied by several specialist units including the Enhanced Care Unit. If this service is cut it may have to be relocated; is the service guaranteed?
And redundancies?
Councillor Brake has made clear there will be no redundancies. This is inappropriate to promise something they cant deliver.
The Council can certainly minimise redundancies and make the redeployment pool more open but they can not guarantee jobs for staff. Whats more those two Cabinet members should know it; and probably do.
Evidence from Shaw's Wood which was sold off and privatised in 2006/2007 shows there were redundancies.
Tory claim that homes are unsafe or open to 'widespread abuse'?
No one has made any assertion that Nelson Court, Robert Bean, Platters Farm or Balfour are unsafe. The assertion in the cabinet holder's speech is therefore inappropriate and not relevent to the debate.
Incidently the worst cases of recent abuse have been in private care homes so actually nullifying the point.
Southern Cross?
The issue surrounding Southern Cross in the portfolio holders statement is irrelevent. The fact is the uncertainty surrounding the homes was very concerning to Southern Cross residents and the Council had to pay staff members to come up with contingency plans at time and expense.
In addition there were several homes owned by Southern Cross that did have to close. Medway was fortunate in that the landlords could take responsbility.
Sadly our Medway Conservatives think asset stripping and selling things off is morally correct.
Either way; the point is irrelevent to the debate.
Most people of reasoned judgement can see this Conservative exercise for what it is.
The simple fact is that because of Conservative cuts nationally, coupled with fiscal incompetence on the current budget Conservatives have to make cuts and savings. They have identified the most vulnerable adults as a service which can be reduced.
Cutting £1m will reduce the service quality or outcomes for those in care. For Tories to claim otherwise is rubbish.
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