It’s not just about a hot meal

Published: 9 June, 2011

• I WAS glad to see the article (Is Town Hall going cold on pensioners’ meals on wheels? June 2) regarding Camden’s decision to end any provision of meals on wheels from this December. 

The council claims to be offering different choices of how to get a hot meal but the one choice not being offered is the continuation of the current daily hot meal delivery. We strongly believe that the choice of service should still include that service.

Unison has been representing the interests of the staff. Many with more than 15 years’ service are facing the prospect of life on the dole. Yet it is not just their jobs they are worried about. They are also anxious because many of their very vulnerable clients rely not just on the food delivery but on the regular contact with another human being, as all too often there is nobody else to check on their welfare.

More than 100 clients have now been “reassessed” as no longer needing this service – but why would an assessment change unless their health has improved? Questions such as this have yet to be answered.

We know there has not been any consultation with clients, carers or family, or with the numerous agencies which make referrals such as day centres and GPs, and we firmly believe there is every likelihood of the continued need for this sort of service for the foreseeable future.

Unison has suggested that a potential way to sustain a hot meal would be to merge it with Islington’s meals on wheels service – provided by the same company – that can save through economies of scale but also retain a local knowledge of the areas as well as clients’ needs.

We have asked Pat Callaghan, cabinet member for adult social care, to consider the possibility of a shared service between the boroughs, but nearly two months on we have yet to receive a reply. Perhaps readers can get a quicker response.

PHOEBE WATKINS 
Co-Chair, Camden Unison