Essex council proposes £25.92 'lifting charge' to help elderly up when they fall
Tendring District Council has proposed the extra charge to its existing care service for staff to visit the homes to help people get back up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A local council has defended plans to charge pensioners £26 to help them to their feet if they've had a fall at home.
Tendring District Council, in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, has come under fire after proposing a £25.92 additional annual charge to around 2,500 Essex residents who use its Careline service.
The “lifting service” will mean Careline staff go to the home of the elderly person with a touch of a special alarm button.
Michael Le Cornu, chairman of the Tendring Pensioners’ Action group told the Mirror it meant people would in effect be “penalised for falling”.
He said pensioners had paid tax for health services all their lives - and were in effect being asked to pay again.
But Paul Honeywood, a local councillor in favour of the scheme, told the Independent the council needed the additional charge in order to continue offering the service: “Having consulted users we have discovered there is a demand and the idea is now going through the budget process with a final decision to be made in February.”
The council says it has already consulted customers and 60 per cent of those who responded said they were in favour of the move, which will increase their current £19.24 monthly bill.
The scheme hopes to reduce the need to call the ambulance for simple falls.
A pilot scheme offering the service was initially funded by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group in association with the East of England Ambulance Service.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments