Care charge hike could make vulnerable suffer

Brent borough's most vulnerable residents could suffer if plans to charge for vital care services are approved.

Elderly people who attend day care centres, disabled people living in sheltered flats and hospital patients receiving re-enablement care will have to pay increased fees under the proposals being considered by Brent Council.

Day care centres are currently free to attend, but from April this year council bosses want to slap a £3.75 per day charge on the service.

They have justified this by saying many other councils already charge for the service.

Re-enablement care charges for people who have just left hospital will also be hiked to £16.65 per hour and sheltered care charges will rise 292 per cent, from £39.90 per week to £116.55.

Brent Labour party is calling for the proposals to be scrapped and to charge users no more than the rate of inflation.

Its leader, Councillor Ann John, said: "The council is hitting residents with a series of stealth taxes in the form of increased charges for council services or new charges. In the case of these proposed increases in care charges they are balancing the books by targeting the elderly and disabled."

The decision to implement the proposed charges will be made at the council's executive meeting on February 16. Residents are being consulted and have until January 19 to put their views forward.

Brent Council said that 70 per cent of people would still received the services for free.

Councillor Reg Colwill, responsible for adults, health and social care, said: "We believe the day care charge is excellent value for money, as it also includes transport to and from the centre. It's a very small contribution, as a day centre costs from £38 to £170 per patient per day to provide.

"Only people who can afford it will have to pay. For example, an older person with an income of £163 per week will pay nothing. Nobody in Brent will have to pay charges that leave them without enough to live on."