Elderly meals could be axed
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
THE NUMBER of people in Tyrone eligible to receive "community meals" could be about to drop quite significantly as the local Health and Social Care Trust re-examines criteria for the service as part of an efficiency savings drive.
Research carried out by the Tyrone Courier has shown that the figure has already dropped quite significantly over the last couple of years.
Figures for the 25th November, 2007 when the service was being provided under the old Armagh and Dungannon Trust reveal that there were 2,490 lunches served up locally compared to 772 lunches that were scheduled for delivery during the first week of November, 2011.
The Courier has also learned that Domestic Care, a local company involved in delivering "community meals" to older and vulnerable people in local communities has been targeting local politicians from across the political spectrum in a bid to try and secure the future of the service.
The company has invited local politicians to join their drivers on a daily delivery run to witness for themselves the value of the service.
“It is hoped that by coming out and speaking to the people, our politicians will see the benefits of our service," said Domestic Care's Operations Director, Liz Ensor. "We meet the nutritional guidelines set out by the Government, help to reduce social isolation and carry out a safe and well check enabling people to stay in their own homes and be independent for as long as possible. We believe that Community Meals should be regarded as a front line service."
The company is involved in delivering approximately 20,000 meals per week across Northern Ireland.
Sinn Fein MLA and Health Committee Chairperson, Michelle Gildernew, was the first politician in the Dungannon area to take up the company's offer.
She joined Domestic Care driver Noel Irvine on his delivery round and said afterwards: "From what I have seen it is clear to me that Community Meals are a vital service that must be protected. It is the policy of the Department of Health to keep people out of hospital. This is a service that prevents people from needing hospital care, by keeping them healthy and living independently in their own home.
“We should be protecting and encouraging eligibility for Community Meals to support our older and vulnerable people. In many cases it is a lifeline, and the regular contact with a driver is the only contact that they have with another person during the day."
Based in Newtownards, Domestic Care has been in operation since 1993 and over the years has delivered more than 15 million meals across Northern Ireland in four Health Trust areas.
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