24 April 2007.

MPs SEEK MINISTER’S ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE STAFFORDSHIRE’S SOCIAL CARE SERVICES

A group of Labour MPs including Stafford’s David Kidney today met Health Minister Ivan Lewis MP to discuss Staffordshire’s “Changing Lives”. The Minister offered David Kidney the meeting in response to concerns he raised in a recent Parliamentary debate.

“The meeting was useful”, says David Kidney:

“It is my opinion that the County Council’s policy objectives are right and welcome. But the changes now being proposed are too speedy. We need time for explanation, consultation and the development of a wider range of services. I realise that the Council’s timing takes account of growing demand on services and finite resources, and I want to help “square the circle”.

“The Minister confirmed that the expanded services desired by the Council – 24 hour contact, respite, support for carers, extra-care housing and re-enablement – are the right ones.

“We asked the Minister to send us examples of best practice in providing these services successfully in other parts of the country. He agreed to do this. I believe it may be helpful – for the Council and for service users – to have an understanding of how other areas got to where we want to get.

“We pressed the Minister on funding for social care services in Staffordshire. Clearly, if the pace of change is being influenced by tight financial constraints, it would help us all if there could be more money made available. The Minister made clear that central government revenue has all been allocated to councils already. The next opportunity to increase the overall “size of the cake” comes in the Comprehensive Spending Review by the Treasury later this year.

“I believe that we all want the same outcomes for Staffordshire. There should be adequate health and social care services for all vulnerable people and their carers. The service users themselves should have as much control as possible over their services. And existing service users should have knowledge of, and access to, new services before existing services are changed or discontinued.”