Fees charged by social services for the day-to-day care of some vulnerable people in city could more than double...

HUNDREDS of disabled and elderly people in Southampton could face rises in their care fees if controversial budget proposals by city health bosses are given the go-ahead.

Fees that are charged by the city's social services department to pay for the day-to-day care of some of the most vulnerable people in Southampton could more than double for some but reduce for others under plans being looked at by council leaders.

Under the plan charges for some poorer people could be halved while hundreds of others would continue to pay nothing.

City health chiefs are planning to introduce revamped "sliding scale" means-tested fees for services such as washing, dressing, and assisting people to go the toilet which are performed by care workers for hundreds of vulnerable Southampton residents.

The services are provided to people suffering from ailments including paralysis, genetic disorders and limb loss - as well as people suffering from the debilitating effects of old age.

At the moment, the council operates a means-tested charging policy for personal services which affects around 2,400 people in the city according to the latest figures from city health chiefs.

Under the new proposals, also means-tested, around 885 people could have to pay as much as £35 more per week for vital services. Around 748 would see their charges lower and 800 would still pay nothing.

Currently, the average charge per week for people who pay is £29.71p.

But it would soar to £64.74 per week - a rise of 117.9 per cent - under the new fee scales which could be introduced under the controversial budget measures.

Fees for poorer groups, such as those claiming benefits such as income support, for example, could more than halve from the current rate of £8.83 per week to £4.32p if the plans are given the green light.

The increases would be introduced in April and form part of the City Council's budget proposals which would also see council tax rise by almost five per cent.

They are due to be introduced by the council following new charging directives which have been imposed by central government dubbed The Fairer Charging Initiative.

A similar policy is already in place in most other local authorities including Hampshire.

But the new policy will differ from that run by Hampshire County Council which gives people a grant - known as "direct payment" which enables people to buy their services directly from care organisations.

The manager of Southampton's Centre for Independent Living, Ian Loynes, said that plans to means-test the benefits would deter elderly and disabled residents from saving.

He said: "What we are talking about is people who have no choice but to pay these charges. It would be much fairer for the council to put up the council tax - then your are spreading the load amongst the general population."

Southampton City Council's Conservative group spokesman for health and social care Councillor Peter Baillie, added: "The administration should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. The people being hit are the most vulnerable requiring care - the elderly and disabled."

The proposals are contained within Southampton's ruling Liberal Democrat budget plans, which were endorsed by members of the Cabinet.

Other controversial measures contained in the budget include raising parking charges by five per cent in city council run car parks and charging commuters using the free car parks at Shirley, Bitterne, Swaythling and Woolston for the first time.

Commuters will be forced to pay £5 to park if they stay longer than five hours in the car parks under the controversial plans.

Elderly people are also facing increased charges for meals on wheels - as well as a planned 30 per cent price hike in the cost of concessionary bus fares.

At the moment, elderly residents pay 30p for concessionary fares. But the cost would rise to 40p if budget plans were given the go-ahead.

Director of Hampshire Age Concern Chris Perry said the charity was not opposed to the changes proposed by social services chiefs if they meant that older people could stay at home instead of being forced to live in residential care homes.

But he added that older people would be hit by proposed increases in bus fares.

He said: "If these components go up by more than inflation, you are cutting into people's incomes."

Labour's spokeswoman for health and social care, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, said: "There will be winners in the new charging policy and there will be losers but the number of losers will be far outweighed by the number of winners."

Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for health and social care, Councillor Ann Milton, said the new system would be fairer with people on very low incomes not having to pay for their care at all.

She said: "We have done a huge amount of work on this and I don't think I can be any fairer, to be honest. In an ideal world, I would not be charging anybody but we have a very tight budget this year and we have to be realistic."

SOCIAL CARE SERVICES IN HAMPSHIRE:

IN HAMPSHIRE, around 7,000 people receive social care services.

Hampshire County Council revamped its charging regime in 2002, which resulted in around 4,300 people paying nothing for their care - in addition to around 1,100 who already got their care free.

In addition, all-day care for vulnerable groups became free in addition to people with learning disabilities.

People were also allowed to have 25 per cent more than the level of income support they received before they were subjected to means-tested charges for care.

Service users are charged a single rate of £11 per hour for home services although there is a range of discounts depending on their personal circumstances.

People are also given "direct payments" which they can use to buy care themselves.