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Do the Government give a Flying Monkeys about the disabled?
Other | Monday 7th October 2013 | Alex
A Freedom of Information request is a great thing when used properly. This week, a disabled peoples’ charity, Leonard Cheshire, has used one of these to its fullest extent by uncovering that two-thirds of local councils in the UK are commissioning fifteen minute visits for those who have serious physical or mental disabilities. This includes a 15% increase in these types of cases in the last five years, as well as, in some extreme cases, almost three out of every four visits to a disabled person equates to fifteen minutes or less.
Leonard Cheshire’s CEO, Clare Pelham, isn’t too pleased by this information; and there’s no reason that she should be. We are now up to the third reading of the Care Bill, with a view to an amendment being made to it. If Pelham had her way, it would be set at a minimum of 30 minutes. This would prove satisfactory to ensure that those who need care would be given the attention they need to get up, have a wash, get dressed, and have breakfast in the morning. Ideally, Pelham would like this to be 40 minutes but let’s take it one step at a time.
She is being reinforced, to a degree, by Sandie Keene, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, who says that the right level of care needs to be given in each case. This would appear to be the view of the pragmatist who is willing to concede the system is flawed but that any amendment to the bill will take time. Furthermore, it’s not going to be anything particularly radical. She cites her Mother, who received fifteen minutes care to be checked up on, as being an example that the ship isn’t sinking as quickly as Pelham would have us believe.
My issue with this comes insomuch as it does not extend to the elderly, or those who are unable to take part in regular social interaction. The bond that can be forged between such people and their carers can make a world of difference to their condition(s), and can keep any further mental illnesses, like depression, at bay. Much has been made of the eighty-four year old woman who has gone on file saying that, she has, for example, had to choose between going to the toilet and going thirsty, as she is unable to go on her own.
Now it would hopefully be the case that carers get into the job because they have a genuine passion and a love of being able to aid those in most need. The over-subscription of these councils will prevent them from doing their job in the manner they, and the people they care for, want. It has been said that shorter visits “confuse and upset” those with severe mental and physical disabilities, so there is an evident need for longer minimum visits.
In an age where so many huge corporations are turning over record profits, and the families of the principal figures within them being able to afford the best care money can buy, it’s ludicrous that healthcare authorities have such tiny amounts of money to hire more staff. This should not be the case, and hopefully, the third reading of the Care Bill will mean that more money is afforded to those who need it most.
Alex Taylor.
