Further Highland respite cuts

[poppett]

Crossroads last year lost half their respite contract to a south based company Carr Gomm. Dad was transferred to the new service provider and his respite time was cut from 2 hours twice a week to 2 hours once a week. This is the only time I am not responsible to respond if dad uses the alarm call system.

Carer told him yesterday that from 1st February Carr Gomm have decided to only provide a sitting service, so he will not have any respite at all. Carer used to take Dad to Tesco on a good day, or shop for him/collect prescriptions/hearing aid batteries or whatever he needs her to do to make my life easier by having two hours to myself.

Take care
Meg

[Myrtle]

That's disgusting Meg
So cross I made 3 typos in the above sentence! And one in that!
So not only does he not get respite, nor do you!

Is there anything you can do?

[poppett]

If we get official notification I will forward it straight to our MP. Luckily his mother receives some help from social work and one of her support workers was dad`s support worker too, so he is always on the ball when carers issues are raised.

I feel sorry for the lady who visits Dad as she took on the job of helping the elderly to be independent and enjoys taking them out, otherwise she would be sitting cosy in her own home enjoying her retirement.

I do most of Dad`s shopping, but it is good for him to choose a few things for himself on a Friday afternoon, even just fresh bread and milk for over the weekend.

This respite for me was assessed as being needed, not just a whim, so what right do they have to just decide to stop it without consultation.........they undercut the costs to steal the contract from Crossroads then want to be picky about what they do............well they picked the wrong one to pick on here.

The rottweiller will be out her cage and snarling again next week.

Take care
Meg

[Melly1]

Meg, sounds like the new care company aren't delivering the services they are being contracted to do. It is not up to them what they deliver - they should be delivering what they are commissioned to be delivering. I also don't see how it is up to them to decide to cut care hours etc that were assessed by social services. Great that you have an MP on board. Good luck with fighting this. If the care company can't fulfill their obligations they shouldn't have taken on the contract.

melly1

[charles47]

Meg, English law is very clear on this - services cannot be cut without reassessment. I don't know Scottish law at all but I'd be surprised if the standard is so wildly different. Best to get checking!

[Eun]

Charles
We were phoned on the Tuesday night to say that services were being withdrawn as from that moment - no assessment and no discussion. They said that son could go into (non-existent) emergency respite or lie in his bed - in the middle of both of our final exams while at University!!

As you know we are in Scotland.

Eun

[poppett]

That is just awful Eun.

Homecarers were short staffed today and Dad got a long lie............because they were late on their rounds, not because he requested it.

Carr Gomm had the cheek after undercutting Crossroads tender for respite to social services to ask if they could use a phone and desk in the Crossroads office as they didn`t have a local base. They are almost 100 miles away and only contact is phone or email.

The new befrienders Enable, are going to be run off their feet at this rate with everyone looking for respite cover.

Take care
Meg

[charles47]

Eun, what happened to you was disgusting, but doesn't change a thing. If it's unlawful, it's something you can fight - as long as you have the evidence.

Problem is I don't know Scottish law on this. However, I'd be very surprised if it was THAT different from English law on this point: I suggest a call to the Helpline.

[Eun]

Not much point now Charles it was 4 or 5 years ago now. More worried about this ESA letter we received now - can only fight one battle ata time these days.

Eun

[charles47]

Understandable, Eun, but I doubt even ATOS could make your son fit for work, although no doubt they'll try

[poppett]

Carr Gomm are blaming Highland Council, saying they are refusing to pay them for any care which is not just sitting with the caree to allow the carer to go out for a couple of hours. The deal was the lady who visited took Dad out so I knew he was in safe hands for two hours a week and could rest or go to GP or Dentist without having to worry about the phone being switched off.

Very strange as the HC care manager had no idea about this when she visited last week.

More "Mushroom management"...........kept in the dark and fed sh1t.

Take care
Meg