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4 NEWS & COMMENT
Socialist Worker 1 April 2020

Crucial care

services are

withdrawn

by councils

Thousands of vulnerable people face
going without the care they need

says Tomáš Tengely-Evans

COUNCILS AND care bosses are BACK STORY
trying to withdraw support for
vulnerable people who have been The Tories promised that
asked to self-isolate. vulnerable people would be
It comes after the Coronavirus looked after during the outbreak
Act watered-down local authorities’ lBut the Coronavirus Act, rushed
duty of care to adults and children. through parliament last week
Those under threat include some made it easier for them to be
of the 1.5 million older and ill neglected
people who have been instructed
not to leave their house for the next lThe act suspended councils’
12 weeks. duty to meet the eligible needs fo
Janet, who lives in Hackney in disabled people and their carers
east London, relies on daily visits lNow one person who relies on
from care workers. care support has told Socialist
She has terminal cancer and Worker how her care company
has recently been diagnosed with tried to abandon her DISABLED PEOPLE face yet more attacks as a result of the Tory Coronavirus Act
ataxia—a degenerative condition
Janet told Socialist Worker she A decade of budget cuts to local Tories abandon homeless people
that affects people’s coordination
and balance. 1.5 million vulnerable with shopping.
was “so shocked” when she got authority budgets and privatisation
asked me if I could manage on my rus legislation brought in dangerous despite promises to give shelter
a phone call from care bosses last has hammered social care services.
That’s why the Tories’ coronavi-
Tuesday. “They phoned up and
own during the crisis,” she said. changes to the Care Act 2014.
“They didn’t ask me if I had family Janet fears that she wouldn’t get
members or friends that could help. the care package back after the coro- CONFLICTING ADVICE from the hours’ notice to find alternative
“It didn’t hit me until afterwards, navirus crisis. Tory government is resulting accommodation for our clients.
as far as they were aware, I would She said, “They should be expand- in homeless people being at “One was 84 years old. Luckily
have been on my own for the next ing care now because so many more heightened risk of contracting we managed to find other rooms
12 weeks.” people will need it, not trying to stop coronavirus. by the skin of our teeth. This is
it. And afterwards, would you get Central government issued a only week one.”
Argue the care back if you have had friends 48-hour warning to local councils Travelodge bosses blamed
Janet refused to give up her care and to look after you for 12 weeks?” to house all rough sleepers by their decision on “government
has kept it “for now at least”, but the Meanwhile, some privatised care Sunday of last week. guidance”, despite guidelines
company tried to argue her down. homes refused to take patients who But Boris Johnson’s cabinet saying that hotels housing
She explained, “When I said I should have been discharged from issued no extra funding to homeless families should remain
couldn’t even prepare my own veg- hospitals. facilitate this. open.
etables, she said, ‘Couldn’t you get Care bosses say they do not want to This will leave already Those currently homeless
ready meals?’. expose elderly people to the risk vulnerable people in increasingly aren’t the only ones risking
“How am I supposed of coronavirus from people who desperate situations. evictions, as Tory policy doesn’t
to stay indoors and stay have not been tested. Paul Atherton is a homeless go far enough to protect private
healthy like that? Mass testing for coronavirus, man who until this week had renters.
“There are things I proper protective clothing for care been sleeping in Terminal 5 of Jenrick—under pressure over evictions Robert Jenrick, Tory housing
cannot do, my family is home staff, and care homes for Heathrow Airport. minister, has said the new
scattered around the coun- people who have been discharged He said rough sleepers in the out on the street. Many homeless Coronavirus Bill includes a
try and my friends are could help solve the problem. airport had been evicted from people are temporarily housed by “complete ban” on evictions
in the same position That means kicking out the building, without any advice local authorities in budget hotels for private renters while the
as me.” privatisers and dumping about where to go next. and Bed and Breakfasts. pandemic is ongoing.
Janet’s case the fragmented, priva- “The likelihood of anyone But the order to close hotels But the new legislation
makes a mock- tised care system. being housed before the weekend on Monday last week meant actually just bans evictions where
ery of the Tories’ Health and social is infinitesimally small,” he said. vulnerable families were a notice period is less than three
claim that coun- care services need But as the Tories issued press evicted—some at just a few months.
cils, friendly a huge injection releases boasting about their hours’ notice. And the bill also doesn’t
neighbours of cash so it’s possi- unprecedented action about A council housing worker in protect around 20,000 people
and the internet ble to meet everyone’s rough sleeping, other policies Spelthorne, Surrey, tweeted, who have eviction cases currently
would help the Care workers need tests and PPE needs. were turfing homeless people “Travelodge gave us four going through the legal process.