Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/661/11340
From The Socialist newspaper, 9 March 2011
Care - condition critical
BIRMINGHAM CITY council is facing legal action from service users as it attempts to raise its criteria for entitlement to adult social care. Under the Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) scheme, when referred to adult social services, users are assessed as either at 'low', 'moderate', 'substantial', or 'critical' risk.
A student social worker
Local authorities choose which band of need they wish to provide services for. This is bad enough, with people being assessed at 'low' risk not receiving any services at all despite great need. But now councils are queuing up to change eligibility to care and only provide services for those at 'critical' risk.
In an attempt to implement the Con-Dem government's cuts and reduce spending, many councils will raise the bar up a band; some councils even jump up two bands and withdraw services for thousands in their areas.
Birmingham council is even creating a new 'super-critical' risk level to try to provide services for as few people as possible. Thurrock council, in Essex, essentially plan the same thing, by splitting the 'substantial' risk level into 'higher and lower'.
Service users and health and social care workers are fighting these attacks and the fight must continue and grow. Social care is a big target for the Con-Dem government and local councils, including Labour-controlled councils. We need to show the bosses that we won't pay for their crisis.
- For all those who need social care to receive it
- No to cuts in health and social care services
- For a one-day public sector strike in defence of jobs and services
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In The Socialist 9 March 2011:
Anti-cuts campaign
Labour councils should fight cuts, not implement them!
Demonstrations against council cuts
Socialist Party youth and students
For a fighting student leadership
Jarrow march for jobs: Why Hull is marching
International socialist news and analysis
Middle East uprisings: The unfinished revolutions
Socialist Party news and analysis
Lib Dems 'get a kicking' in Barnsley
Wales votes 'yes' but workers' party needed
Lewisham: Vote for a real fight against the cuts
Cardiff march and rally against cuts
Brighton: Labour and Green Party councillors fail to stop Tory budget
Tories allow growth of Murdoch media empire
TUC must address demo access issue
Socialist Party workplace news
BP Hull Saltend construction workers win victory through strike action
Fighting the anti-trade union laws
UCU members vote for action on pensions, jobs and pay
Socialist Party feature
Casualties of cuts - and a rotten system
Needed: a fair deal for carers!
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