Labour find extra money for older people’s services

Solution found by Labour to save its services for older people

After listening to the views of thousands of residents, Labour has found a solution to save its services for older people in the face of nationally escalating costs of care.

Despite severe financial pressures, stringent measures across the organisation over the last year have resulted in savings which can now be channelled into services for adults needing support, leaving untouched the criteria that determine which people can access care.

As a result, older people and vulnerable adults across Lambeth will still be able to access appropriate services to help them live at home.

Earlier in the year, to make ends meet in the face of exponentially increasing care costs across the country, the Council reluctantly announced it might have to change eligibility criteria so that only people in 'critical' need would be entitled to care. This was despite an injection of £1.9 million into adult care, the largest single funding increase for any council service.

Residents, carers and community groups understandably expressed their concern at the proposals, and since then a huge effort has been underway at the Town Hall to find an alternative solution, including lobbying central government for more funds and - most importantly - getting the views of the people who use the council's services.

Donatus Anyanwu Labour Cabinet member for Adult and Community Services, said: "I'm very pleased we can make this announcement - we've been talking to the people who use our services and we've listened. We were always reluctant to change the eligibility criteria, but in the context of escalating social care costs nationally we've been caught in an extremely difficult situation. To add to that there were no council reserves when the current administration was elected last year.

“We’ve introduced a number of stringent measures to make savings across the organisation and as a result Lambeth’s finances are in a better position than they’ve been for many years. We will still have to make some difficult financial decisions in future, but older people’s care is an area we will continue prioritise."

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