Cheshire East ‘letting down’ vulnerable elderly over meals service cut

The service at Oakmere Extra Care in Handforth and Willowmere in Middlewich is provided by Cheshire East’s school meals catering service and the residents pay £6 per meal.

But the council has been subsidising the loss-making school meals service, which is now to close.

The matter was raised at Monday's meeting of the adults and health committee by Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Con), who has previously expressed concern a decision about elderly people was made by the children and families committee.

Helen Charlesworth-May, executive director of adults, health and integration, said: “There is absolutely no reason why the council should subsidise some people's meals simply because they live in an extra care setting rather than living in another form of accommodation.

Helen Charlesworth-May (Image: Cheshire East Council) “However, people are used to having a meal service provided from the buildings, so we are looking at what those options might be.”

She said no formal consultation had been entered into, although residents had been asked what they wanted in future.

“The service is being withdrawn in January, for those that aren't familiar with this, because the school catering service is most likely to be closing at that point, following consultation,” said Mrs Charlesworth-May.

“If it continues, following consultation, then the service will continue. If it doesn't continue, then we need to do something else…

“There will be interim provision from January to April, if the service is withdrawn, and during January to April, we will formally consult on a permanent solution for extra care.”

She added: “We know that a meal is an important part of the social aspect of being in extra care, so we're looking at how we can meet that need.

“However, if there is anybody in extra care that requires a meal as part of their social care assessment, we will be dealing with that separately through the social care assessment process.”

Cllr Julie Smith (Image: Cheshire East Council) Handforth councillor Julie Smith (Non-grouped), who has been working with the residents, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Many people chose Oakmere because of the facilities offered, which included a subsidised restaurant which was open to both Oakmere residents and the wider community to enjoy.

“As well as offering a range of well-balanced, delicious meals, the restaurant is used as a meeting place for residents, many of whom live alone and can feel quite isolated.

“It also provides for residents who are disabled and unable to prepare their own meals, the opportunity to eat properly without having to pay for extra care time for carers to prepare meals.

"One resident told me it would have cost an extra £110 per week to have meals prepared by her carer.”

She added: “I do not feel that the residents’ concerns have been fully considered as a recent survey showed that 88 per cent of them wanted to retain a service similar to the current service yet the closure has still been announced without any further consultation.

“I believe we are letting down some of the most vulnerable members of our community who are now worrying about how they will manage going forward.”