Merseyside pensioner and daughter face homelessness after town hall budget cuts

by Elissa Corrigan. Published Thu 04 Dec 2008 16:08, Last updated: 2008-12-04
Donald Edwards and daughter Rona Sutton
Donald Edwards and daughter Rona Sutton

After the shockwaves sent through Social Services departments across Britain a new case at the other end of the age scale is set to raise Kane.

Retired architect Donald Edwards, 79, faces being made homeless after town hall managers OVERRULED social workers and butchered his care package.

The £300-a-month cuts mean Donald's daughter Rona Sutton, 45, will lose the specially adpated family home where she looks after him

Donald, suffers from a list of debilitating conditions including diabetes and requires round-the-clock attention.

Rona and her husband Mark, 38, who have a son Tom, eight, built an annexe on their home in Wirral, Merseyside, to allow her to care for Donald.

But after the care package cuts the couple are failing to meet the repayments on a £135,000 mortgage on the property in New Ferry and are being threatened with eviction.

Holistic therapist Rona said: "We are desperately trying to make ends meet but without the extra money dad's care package we are in arears on the mortgage.

Rona said: "I'm sick with worry about all this. We are in danger of losing the house, my business and my father all at once because on heartless budget cuts.

"My dad's own social worker said he should continue to get the full package but then a manager wrote and said it was being cut.

"When you hear about the blunders made in the Baby P case you realise that these people think they can play God, make cuts at the stroke of a pen and get away with it.

"But cutting dad's care package makes no sense for the council or us.

"It will cost them more in the long run if we he is made homeless because they will have to find a care home for him.

"The worrying thing is that I fear he would not last long in a care home and it makes you think that is what the council want."

Rona has been the sole carer of her father since he left hospital in 2005 following a series of operations and was being paid for 22 hours each week caring for him.

But following a reassessment in October social services have now axed a third off Donald's allowance, to £639 per month claiming that he only needs 15 hours of care per week.

Managers classed Donald's needs in a "lesser substantial" category overruling personal social worker who said his needs were "critical" and "substantial" and should perhaps be awarded more care.

Donald needs assistance with every aspect of his daily routine which includes, four meals a day, three showers, toileting, washing applying of creams and has to be prompted to take up to 25 different medicines every day.

Rona, who owns a holistic therapy shop, says: "When my dad's health began to suffer, we had to put our lives on hold and decided to adapt the house to look after him.

"We had a granny flat built on to the side of our house, so we could accommodate him and we were told we could apply for a care package to help with the cost of looking after him.

"It took us six months to get a penny from the council but when they eventually paid up, they told us we would be receiving £883 per month.

"Unless that social work manager comes into this house and assesses him herself, she has no right to make assumptions which mean an hour of care is cut to just 15 minutes.

"I love my father and I want to care for him and it will be a heartbreaking Christmas for us dealing with making him homeless and sending him off to a care home.

"But that is what will happen thanks to these faceless bureaucrats who wreck lives with mindless cuts and a blind eye to what is happening in the real world.

"We have tried going to our MP, councillors and a solicitor but they all say the decision is final and there is no appeal system.

"Four lives are being blighted by this and I'm reduced to tears every time I think of this heartless cruelty."

Widower Donald, who had a 57-year career working as an architect.

He said: "I often feel like everyone would be better off if I wasn't around."

"I feel like such a burden. It's heartbreaking to see my daughter upset and losing her house because of me.

"I have paid all of my taxes and never once claimed dole or any other benefit.

"Now when I need a little help they don't want to know and is making me even more ill with worry.

"These cuts are going to make me homeless. I don't understand how they can get away with it. It goes completely against my human rights."

Rona has now been left with no choice but to seek legal advice and her solicitor Peter Edwards said he has never before seen such an "appalling and callous" case.

Mr Edwards said: "The whole case is very unsavoury and the at the heart of it is an elderly, vulnerable old man.

"What the council are doing is absolutely ill-logical and may lead to the death of Donald.

"Wirral council have only got a complaints procedure which goes on and on through a series of letters.

"By the time they get round to sorting out this mess, it may be too late.

"I have undertaken this kind of work for many years and never before have I seen such an appalling and callous way of dealing with a situation by council managers.

"The family received a letter from the social worker, which gives no reasons for the cuts, it just states that 'criteria' were not met.

"The bottom line is, here is an old man who is struggling and instead of being supported, he is being pushed aside.

"It's an absolute disgrace."

But Wirral Council has defended their decision to slash pensioner Donald Edwards' care allowance

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: "Mr Edwards' concerns are being taken very seriously and a number of the department's support services are already working to ensure that he will remain safe and well.

"We believe that his case has been reviewed correctly and that he receives the correct level of funding relative to his needs.

"It has been reviewed in exactly the same way as we treat every other case.

"We are in continuing contact with both Mr Edwards and his legal representatives as we continue to address his concerns."





Comments about Merseyside pensioner and daughter face homelessness after town hall budget cuts

There are no comments yet on Merseyside pensioner and daughter face homelessness after town hall budget cuts. Be the first to leave one, enter your thoughts below.

Post a comment






Alert me of replies

You have characters left


 









Latest News












Powered by Click Creative
© All Rights Reserved.