Caring for Older and Needy People

2.05.57pm GMT Thu 1st Feb 2007

The Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget launched yesterday will spend an extra £1m above the Cabinet's recommended budget on care for elderly and vulnerable adults. This is a particular priority for the Liberal Democrats who are shocked at the level of cuts and so-called efficiency savings being proposed by the Conservative administration, and the effect that this will have on frail elderly and vulnerable people in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Janet Godden, opposition spokesperson on Adult Services, said:

"Disinvestment in older adults' services by the NHS, combined with the government's failure to fund social care at anything like a level to meet basic need, means that greater and greater burdens will inevitably fall on family carers - often a frail spouse, or a son or daughter well past middle age themselves.

"We are disappointed both with a Government that promised to invest in social care 'after health and education' but is refusing to fulfill that promise, and with the Tory administration at County Hall that feebly accepts this.

"The additional money that we are putting into our budget will reverse Tory cuts in the number of respite beds, and gradually reinstate the day centre programme for older people, abandoned by the Tories as soon as they took control at County Hall. We know what a difference these services make both to carers and to the people for whom they care."