Council boss defends price hike on care (From This Is Cheshire)

Council boss defends price hike on care

8:00am Wednesday 31st January 2007 in News By Sarah Harker

SOCIAL services bosses have defended a £300 price hike in care charges, after it was queried by a Fearnhead pensioner.

Two weeks ago, the Warrington Guardian told how the cost of 79-year-old Joan Gowland's 19 hours of care had increased from £33 a month to £143 per month.

She said she was contemplating giving up her care because of the cost and questioned why it had risen by such a huge amount.

This week, Helen Sumner, director of community services at Warrington Borough Council, explained that the increase was to bring Warrington in line with other local authorities according to Government legislation and guidelines.

She said: "Warrington has traditionally been a very low-charging authority but the growing demand on social care services meant that we had to review our charges.

"This has been necessary so that we can provide the range of high quality care services to people across the borough and is a decision that has not been taken lightly."

She added that the charging policy is based on the income of its users and that people with lower incomes are not charged at all.

"A full financial assessment of a person takes place and we also offer a full benefit check to ensure that service users receive what they are entitled to - we also assist them in claiming these benefits," she said.