County hits the most vulnerable in care cuts

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 31st Mar 2006

Five days of care have been cut to three.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne is campaigning against cuts in Hampshire County Council's care for the most vulnerable members of society.

Mr Huhne has written to Cllr Ken Thornber, the leader of HCC, asking for an explanation for why three people all of whom are assessed as in the most needy "critical" band for care have had their care cut back sharply.

Mr Huhne is pictured here with three of the carers for the people involved - all of whom use Bishopstoke day centre in the Mount, Bishopstoke - who have been shocked by the sharp cuts.

From the left, the photo shows the three carers - Ms Sandra Lock and Ms Irene Macarthur and Ms Macarthur's son Richard, Chris Huhne MP and Ms Christine Rigden. They are holding the letters from Hampshire county council notifying them of the cuts.

"These cuts typically involve two days less per week in care for these extremely vulnerable people, whose families are now having to give up work and other commitments to look after family members. Five days of care from morning until early evening have been cut to three.

"Moreover, there is no allowance for the carers to have respite from care, which is likely to put serious stress on them, their health and well-being.

"The cuts in adult services are about £1.3 million, but it seems extraordinary that those most vulnerable on the county's own criteria are so badly affected. At the same time, the county is doubling its budget for so-called corporate communications designed to polish up its image. What sense of priorities is that?"

Mr Huhne has called on Cllr Thornber to explain the criteria by which people's care packages are being cut, and asking for him to reconsider the county's priorities.