Council defends 'cynical' decision to transfer Derbyshire care services to private firms amid coronavirus lockdown

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins says people have been informed they must change carers just 10 days before the alterations are due to be made.

In a letter seen by the Derbyshire Times, Derbyshire County Council’s adult care service director, Simons Stevens, informs disabled service users the authority will be transferring their Direct Care services to private care providers and they will be contacted ‘within 10 days’ to discuss changing their carers.

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Although the council says it is the ‘best possible use’ of limited resources, Labour MP Mr Perkins claims it is causing stress and ‘sleepless nights’ for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

“I am at a loss as to why the council would choose to announce these changes during a global pandemic,” Mr Perkins said.

“Many of the people receiving this care are in the most vulnerable group and are already suffering anxiety about their health.

“Now they are being told that the usual carers that they see every day, who they are used to, will be changed.

“I have been contacted by constituents in absolute pieces. One has told me that since the letter arrived his wife has been regularly bursting into tears and unable to sleep.”

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Mr Perkins has now written to County Hall calling on council leaders to suspend any changes until after the Covid-19 crisis has passed and a full consultation with service users and others has taken place.

He added: “Announcing this now seems like another cynical, and rather callous, attempt to avoid scrutiny, in the same way that we have seen with the local authority still pursuing their plans to close local care homes.

“It is a disgraceful way to treat some of the most vulnerable people in Derbyshire and I urge the Tory leadership and senior officers to suspend these plans, which are putting disabled people at risk”.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “We are changing the way we offer short-term support to people to ensure that we’re making the best possible use of our limited resources.

“These changes will help us to ensure we are supporting the most vulnerable people to help them return home from hospital when they are well enough or prevent some people from going in to hospital. During this pandemic this work is even more critical as we support our colleagues in the NHS.

“I’d like to reassure people that the care agencies we are working with are closely monitored by us and are subject to the same rules and guidelines set out by the Care Quality Commission as we are.

“We understand people may be worried about these changes but we are working with them to ensure they continue to receive the support they need.”

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