Charity scraps plans for wheelchair upkeep fees

A CHARITY has dramatically scrapped plans to charge its clients who have physical disabilities for the upkeep of their beds, mattresses and wheelchairs.

Cheshire Ireland confirmed the U-turn after the proposal was highlighted by Cork city Cllr Mick Barry.

Cheshire Ireland provides supported accommodation, respite and support services to hundreds of adults with physical disabilities at 18 facilities around the country.

But letters were issued to the families of service users at the charity’s St Laurence Cheshire Home in Cork stating that since January 1, the organisation is “no longer in a position to finance the upkeep, maintenance, hire and repairs of resident’s mattresses, beds and wheelchairs”.

“It shall be the sole responsibility of the service user and or family to fund the maintenance of their mattress, bed and wheelchair,” the letter said.

“Our staff will efficiently notify management of any repair requirements and we will in turn notify those concerned who can decide on the required action.”

The non-profit organisation, which is 90% funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), said it had no other option after cuts to its budget.

But the charity’s chief executive Mark Blake-Knox ordered the withdrawal of the letter last night and said it had not been sanctioned by the charity at national level.

“I was unaware of this action. It was taken at a local level. I have asked that the letter be withdrawn,” he said.

Mr Barry welcomed the U-turn but said: “We all know where responsibility lies here.

“The Government have cut funding to the HSE, the HSE passed the cuts on to Cheshire Homes and Cheshire Homes passed the cuts on to people with physical disabilities.

“I will be keeping a very close eye on events to ensure that this cutback is not passed on to the residents in some other guise.”

Cheshire Ireland received some €29 million in funding from the HSE last year. There was a 1% cut in funding in 2008 and 2% in 2009. Cuts of up to 6% are expected in 2010 but the funding allocation has yet to be announced.

The HSE said it has yet to issue its 2010 budget to the voluntary sector in Cork and Kerry.

“However, when the budget is issued it is expected to contain an efficiency saving for each voluntary organisation aimed at back office support services and efficiency savings in the non-pay area.

“The voluntary sector will be asked to achieve this efficiency savings without affecting service provision to their clients.”

Mr Blake-Knox said the charity will strive to continue to meet the needs of its service users.

“But the reality is, the more cuts, the greater the challenge. Our local service managers are under an awful lot of pressure to run their services with the current budgets. That is a fact,” he said.

Leonard Cheshire, one of the most decorated RAF officers during the Second World War and an observer of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945, founded his first home in England in 1948.

St Laurence’s was the second Cheshire Home in Ireland when it opened in 1964. It offers accommodation for some 30 residents.

Cheshire Ireland operates 18 centres and a range of community-based services around Ireland, employing almost 700 staff and serving more than 330 people.