Campaigning against community care cuts

As Conservative Hammersmith & Fulham Council continues its crusade against disabled and older people who need support (see below), the local Coalition against Community Care Cuts is upping its campaign.

The council voted in July to withdraw nearly 550 people’s services, often the very limited support that maintains people's general wellbeing and a minimal quality of life (see previous blogs). Now the council has started yet another consultation process with a proposal to introduce charging older and disabled people for essential home care services. This goes against the Tories' election manifesto pledge. The council had to abandon a decision on charging earlier this year having carried out what many local residents viewed as a poor consultation exercise.

Kevin Caulfield, Chair of the Coalition said: “Local residents had to demand proper consultation, and also discovered that the charging proposal appeared to be open to a legal challenge for being potentially unlawful. The council which says that its mandate is to stop waste and cut inefficiency but not cut services, has already wasted local residents’ council tax contributions on one ill thought out consultation process.

"The council is also cutting disabled people and older people’s essential support services which has nothing to do with reducing general inefficiencies but everything to do with poor decision making and a could not care less attitude towards some local residents."

Hammersmith & Fulham Coalition against Community Care Cuts (HAFCAC) represents a growing number of disabled and older residents, supported by many non-disabled residents and local organisations. The coalition aims to challenge these cuts in services and jobs which will negatively impact on the quality of life of many local residents.

HAFCAC has launched a campaign pack to let local residents know what is happening.
The campaign pack is available free by contacting the coalition. It explains the issues, tells you how to contact your locally elected representatives and how to let them know what you think.

For more information contact:

Kevin Caulfield, Chair of Hammersmith & Fulham Coalition against Community Care Cuts
HAFCAC, PO Box 57168, London, SW6 7UW. Telephone 0208 743 6573 Typetalk 18001 07899752877. Email hafcac@hotmail.co.uk