Disabled People ‘Sleeping In Wheelchairs Because Of Social Care Cuts’

A new report claims that disabled people are being forced to sleep fully clothed in their wheelchairs because of cuts to the care services.

Charity Scope found that over half of the 500 disabled people they questioned were not able to get the support they needed to live independently.

They blamed a cut in welfare packages made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), headed by Iain Duncan Smith (below).

The charity said that some people were surviving on nothing more than biscuits and were forced to sleep in their wheelchairs as there was no one to help them into bed.

Rachel Watt, a 36-year-old from Southampton, told the charity: “Since 2010, I have had two thirds of my care package cut, from two and a half hours a day down to 45 minutes.

"In November 2010, I lost my evening call to help me get ready for bed. Then a few months later I lost my domestic assistance, and then the following year I lost my meal preparation time.

"Now I just have a short morning call to help me get washed and dressed.

"On my worst days, I can’t get undressed properly in the evenings, or transfer from my power wheelchair into bed, so I have to sleep in my chair, in my clothes.”

Another person in need, known only as Robert, from Warwickshire, said all his social care was used up on getting him to hospital.

The 63-year-old - who suffered an accident 15 years ago - added: "If I’m on my own, I don’t have anything to eat or drink all day.

“There’s a bottle of water and a box of Belvita biscuits by my bed, and that’s all I’ll get to eat all day because I can’t afford to pay for care.

“So life is miserable, to be honest.”

Scope found that 36% of disabled social care users said support has become worse since 2010, with 19% saying it had improved.

The charity also revealed that 83% of those whose hours of support have been cut say they now do not get enough support through their care package.

Mark Atkinson, chief executive of Scope, warned many disabled people were being left “socially isolated”.

He added: “Our findings show the horrific consequences that disabled people face as a result of our collapsing social care system.

"Disabled people have told us they are waiting fourteen hours to go to the toilet, sleeping in their clothes, unable to eat or wash and left socially isolated.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said of the report: “No-one should be left for hours waiting for the care they need.

"We’ve set new guidelines for councils on how they commission their services so people do get enough time and enough say over their care.

"And we’re making sure older and vulnerable people have a strong health and care service, having invested an extra £3.2 billion to social care between 2011-2014 and putting £10 billion extra into the NHS during this Parliament.”

Pics: Rex