UK: Coronavirus Bill could leave thousands of Disabled people without support

Andy

Andy

Retired committee member
Inclusion London is very much concerned about the devastating impact of the proposed Coronavirus Bill on the lives of thousands of Disabled people. It potentially poses a serious risk and can put the wellbeing of many at real danger.

The Bill sets out emergency laws in response to the COVID-19 emergency. The Bill is being debated in Parliament on Monday 23 March. We urge you all to write to your MP expressing your concern over the implications of the Bill for Disabled people.
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As it stands the Bill poses a serious risk to the lives of many Disabled people, especially those of us who need social care support.

The Bill will effectively free local authorities of their duties to provide social care support under the Care Act 2014 and will only oblige local authorities to provide support in cases where the human rights of Disabled people will be breached.

We know from experience that in order for human rights to be breached in social care context the situation has to be very critical or severe.
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https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/...thousands-of-disabled-people-without-support/
 
“The Bill will effectively free local authorities of their duties to provide social care support under the Care Act 2014”,

Sorry I cannot read the Bill as I’m not feeling too well. Could someone please summarise why the govt is putting this in the bill and why they are freeing local authorities from doing this? Why would that even have an effect on treating and responding to coronavirus - how would that help hospitals to look after coronavirus patients? I don’t understand it.
 
lunarainbows said:
“The Bill will effectively free local authorities of their duties to provide social care support under the Care Act 2014”,

Sorry I cannot read the Bill as I’m not feeling too well. Could someone please summarise why the govt is putting this in the bill and why they are freeing local authorities from doing this? Why would that even have an effect on treating and responding to coronavirus - how would that help hospitals to look after coronavirus patients? I don’t understand it.
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It enables them to free up hospital bed spaces by discharging patients who do not need to be in hospital for medical reasons, but require social care to be safe at home (this problem is called 'bed-blocking' in the NHS and is a major problem due to the lack of social workers and the current social care crisis). At present, a hospital cannot discharge a vulnerable person with significant social care needs without a proper assessment and care package being put in place - until that has happened the patient (usually a frail elderly person) cannot leave hospital. This is currently a legal requirement, so the crisis bill will waive this duty of care, thus making more hospital beds available for coronavirus patients.

Yes, this will mean that some of the most vulnerable people will be removed from hospital to the community, without adequate community care in place.[Edit: Or social workers will be able to be moved from doing community social care assessments to doing the hospital based ones instead - either way, vulnerable people will be left without much needed social care support]
 
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ffs Cant write much , but been having so many problems with care. was told on Friday I have been transferred to another team , to carry out another care assessment. but they have a waiting list so may be a while. If this goes thru then I may not get it ? Also just read in the independent that
this legislation also allows " care providers to lower their standards to prioritise resources " :(
 
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Simbindi said:
It enables them to free up hospital bed spaces by discharging patients who do not need to be in hospital for medical reasons, but require social care to be safe at home (this problem is called 'bed-blocking' in the NHS and is a major problem due to the lack of social workers and the current social care crisis). At present, a hospital cannot discharge a vulnerable person with significant social care needs without a proper assessment and care package being put in place - until that has happened the patient (usually a frail elderly person) cannot leave hospital. This is currently a legal requirement, so the crisis bill will waive this duty of care, thus making more hospital beds available for coronavirus patients.

Yes, this will mean that some of the most vulnerable people will be removed from hospital to the community, without adequate community care in place.[Edit: Or social workers will be able to be moved from doing community social care assessments to doing the hospital based ones instead - either way, vulnerable people will be left without much needed social care support]
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Thanks for explaining. That’s terrible, a very frightening prospect. The solution would have been to put more money and resources into Social services and care, so people would have had safe homes to go back to, but no.
 
Alis said:
What no one tells you about accessing social care in England.
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Yes, I had involvement with Adult Services in behalf of a relative when my own condition wasn't as severe. It was a nightmare. Every little thing had to be negotiated and fought for. Two days later you'd get a phone call and it would be as though the last 5 calls had never taken place.

Frequently, I was asked, well could you not do this? Well, given my own health condition and the fact I was often too unwell to drive and the journey could take two hours to get there.....no.

Then I was asked why the person couldn't move in with me so I could provide their care. Well, I'm too sick, don't have the room etc. But you have ME - you'll be better soon was the attitude. Fantastic, I said, but then I'll be back in work....

Eventually, we got something sorted. Then I got a phone call. Could I pop round (up to a 4 hour round trip) to change a light bulb? No? Well, couldn't I find anyone else to do it? Well, no, I explained, that's why she needed help from adult services, there wasn't anyone to pop round.

The I was told they'd have to the fire brigade to it & that was a waste of the fire brigade's time (completely agree) and that was my fault. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
And so it continues:

article:
Friday, 1st May 2020
Disabled man unable to get supermarket delivery left with one Pot Noodle to eat
When supermarkets around the UK began introducing priority deliveries, it was hoped they would ensure the vulnerable would not be left without food or essentials during lockdown.

But with over a million people now in the very high risk category, an increasing number of elderly or chronically ill shoppers have been unable to secure themselves slots.

Among them was Paul Farrelly, who has cerebral palsy, and was left with only one Pot Noodle to eat after being unable to leave his house to go shopping or get any food delivered to his home in Liverpool.
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But it has been claimed a large number of disabled or chronically ill people have been excluded from this scheme due to the highly selective criteria. They include those with compromised immune systems, Muscular Dystrophy, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and some types of cancers.

And even if they do manage to get onto the shield list, some vulnerable shoppers still can't get delivery slots.
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https://inews.co.uk/news/real-life/...o-cant-get-supermarket-delivery-slots-2671091
 
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