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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