W2C-009 North Down Herald-3.txt
Health Unit slammed for 'cutting corners'

North Down and Ards Community Unit has been accused of "cutting corners" in providing health care in the community.

Outraged by the local health unit's decision to withdraw home helps from preparing meals for hundreds of disabled and elderly people, Alliance's Siobhan Laird attacked the government's entire community care programme.
"When the government first proposed moving people from institutional care into the community, a government committee appeared to investigate this matter and reported in 1988, warning that 'care in the community is not a cheap option'," said Ms Laird.
And she insisted the government has done the reverse by "treating it as a cheap option".

"The government has consistently tried to sell us community care as a product which will enhance the quality of life and broaden the choices of coping with physical or mental disability," she said.

Service

"I believe in Bangor such conservative policies have resulted in elderly and disabled people being increasingly abandoned into the community. These policies are stifling choice," added Ms Laird.

Attacking North Down and Ards Community Unit, the Alliance member said no-one would be fooled by assurances that a new meals-on-wheels service, which is replacing the meals service currently provided by home helps, would lead to quality enhancement.

"The unit assures us that the decision to have frozen meals delivered to disabled and elderly people, instead of having them prepared in the person's house by a home help, is not a money saving measure," she said.

"Do they think we are all stupid enough to swallow that one? Of course this new policy is about cutting cost because it is about cutting corners in personal care. As a community we must oppose it," concluded Ms Laird.

It is understood the North Down and Ards Unit may introduce the new meals-on-wheels system within the next few months.

However it is believed a small number may still be provided with a home help at meal times and will not be part of the new scheme.

Under the new system, clients will be issued with a menu card at the beginning of each week and will be asked to pick the meals they wish to eat.

These will then be collected by an outside catering firm and delivered by a female driver to individual homes.

The food will then be heated up by the elderly and disabled clients themselves.

Each meal will cost the individual £ 1.
