Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government and North Wales Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood, has called on the Welsh Government to respond to concerns raised with him about local authorities removing direct payments from disabled people. Direct payments give disabled people more choice and control over how their care and support is arranged.
Mr Isherwood said as a result people are losing their independence and asked the Leader of the House, Julie James AM, what the Welsh Government is doing to enable people to maintain control over their lives.
Speaking in the Chamber yesterday, he said:
“Noting your responsibilities, you know that the Welsh Government's 'A Healthier Wales: our Plan for Health and Social Care' has an ambition to bring health and social care services together, so they're designed and delivered again around the needs and preferences of individuals. And the Welsh Government itself says, 'We may also need to change how we pay for health and social care services.'
“Again, noting your responsibilities, how do you respond to, again, a growing concern raised with me of local authorities removing direct payments from people, in discussion with health boards, who are then being moved on to continuing health care? They're losing their independence, they're losing their ability to live in their own homes, sometimes with support, and frequently ending up being told through the health support that they're going to have to go into some sort of statutory residential provision, or commissioned care, rather than having their own front door.
“And this is exacerbated by a Welsh Government requirement that personal budgets must not be pooled, unlike in Scotland and England, which prevents a local authority pooling the direct payments with the continuing health care budget. How, then, is the Welsh Government going to enable people affected by this to continue to live independently, rather than being forced to lose voice, choice and control over their own lives?”
The Leader of the House replied: “It's not my understanding that that's the outcome of the change, but it isn't my portfolio area, so I'll have to write to Mr Isherwood, because I'll have to consult with my Cabinet Secretary colleague who is the portfolio holder for that particular fund.”
Mr Isherwood added: “Well, given your responsibility for the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention, I would argue that you have some overarching responsibility, although clearly it's not your departmental responsibility.”