I AM writing this on behalf of my 78-year-old aunt who received a letter on May 20 this year saying that her home care provider would be changing from Kirklees Homecare to a different provider, which could start from September 2011.

The letter stated that my aunt would still receive home care four times a day.

The suggestion that her provider is being changed has caused major worries for my aunt. She is fearful that she is going to be switched over from Kirklees Homecare to a private home care provider.

She has chronic health problems and requires 24 hour home oxygen. She is fiercely determined to stay in her own home and the care she has received from a dedicated Kirklees Homecare Team has meant she feels safe and secure in her home.

The Kirklees Homecare Team has built up a good rapport with my aunt who requires help with very personal needs.

The thought of having a lot of different carers from private home care coming into her home makes her feel scared. The news of this change has given nothing but worry and anxiety to my aunt and over the last few weeks I have seen a dramatic change in her and she cannot stop thinking and talking about it.

She has no immediate family and feels extremely vulnerable. It has been suggested that complex care such as dealing with mobility issues would be retained by the local authority.

I would have thought my aunt would come under this category since she can get about only by using a zimmer frame.

My aunt has previous experience of private home care when her late husband had such carers seven years ago just before he died of cancer.

Her experience at that time was not very good and the memory of that time brings to mind staff who were not well trained and had a very non-committed approach to their work.

We are all aware that we are living in difficult economic times but feel that the most vulnerable members of society need protecting. For this reason we feel it is vital to protect and maintain Kirklees Homecare.

Mrs Jacqueline Noble

Batley

Academies everywhere

IS your school planning to become an academy?

I think it is time that all parents asked this question of the governors, head and staff of their children’s schools before it is too late.

Academies seem to be popping up like mushrooms with little or no consultation with parents.

June Jones

Marsden

Parking woe in Emley

I WAS amused to read the article in the Examiner about the Green Dragon at Emley.

Most of the objectors are sanctimonious hypocrites and why did they not object when the pub was first sold and knocked down.

At that time it was rumoured they were going to build 14 houses there.

I am a ‘comer in’ having only been here for about 30 months.

These people complaining it takes away their parking were only there on sufferance since the owners/tenants of the pub could have blocked the entrance to them.

It was not, and is not, their divine right to park there.

The God fearing churchgoers regularly block the corners of this street. Do these people have no commonsense?

On school days the same thing happens as cars vie with each other to get the nearest and best space.

It is a nightmare for anybody else passing through. I cannot see where it breaks or breaches the privacy of those living opposite.

As for the claim they will have to reverse in or out of the car park spaces. What do you think the complainants do from their driveways? Exactly the same. That is if they bother to put their cars up their drives anyway.

Resident

Emley

Heroes of the heart

I AM writing to thank all the Examiner readers who signed up to become a Heart Hero with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) last month.

Examiner readers have been putting their hands on their hearts and the campaign has been a resounding success.

We couldn’t have done it without the support of the community.

Volunteers play a vital role in our lifesaving work and their dedication helps save and improve the lives of those affected by heart disease.

Readers can still sign up to be a Heart Hero and volunteer in whatever way they like.

Ideas range from placing collection boxes and volunteering in a BHF Shop to organising their own event, such as a coffee morning.

People only have to give the time they can afford – whether it’s a regular day a week or a few hours a year.

Whatever people choose to do, they’ll be able to take pride in the fact they’ve taken time to help the charity’s work in saving lives and fighting heart disease.

You can find out more by visiting bhf.org.uk/volunteer, email volunteer@bhf.org.uk or call 0300 456 8353.

Chrish Perera

Volunteer Fundraising, BHF

Fuel hypocrisy

LAST week on the internet I noticed that another million people are in fuel poverty or paying more than 10% of their income for heat, light and cooking.

Over the last few days a couple of newspapers have remarked on it.

I actually pay about 28% of our total income, not including water rates – and that’s for a one-bed flat.

It was mentioned there are so-called social tariffs for the old and ‘poor’.

I can assure you that the two I know about are in fact dearer than the cheapest online tariff from these two companies.

If the utility companies were really wanting to help, the social tariffs would be cheaper.

The Age UK one from Eon says overall over two years it is cheaper. I actually pay 2p a unit less so if mine does go up I calculate that the people on the social tariff will already have paid in their first year whatever I will pay in the second year, so it will be not much different.

What a bunch of hypocrites.

Martin Fletcher

Emley

Musical station

A COUPLE of weeks ago I had occasion to be in Huddersfield Bus Station for about 15 minutes on two occasions.

How pleasant it was to listen to music from the 1960s being played over the loud-speaker on both days. I was quite surprised, as most of the intending passengers there were young people. Thanks for catering for us ‘oldies’.

Elsie M Eva

Lepton

It’s all about money

CAN anyone tell me the name of the leader of the newly recognised ‘government’ of Libya or, indeed, any other member of it?

This recognition of the invisible men surely wouldn’t be a ploy by Western powers to allow them access via proxy to the frozen bank accounts of the old Libyan Government to pay the arms industry for bullets etc and so recoup some of the ever-increasing costs of this war and offset criticism of the expanding costs to hard-up western countries?

John Langford

Lepton

More nasty butties

SOUNDS like the same cafe that took me for a ride. (Sandwich rip-off, Mailbag, July 18).

I refused the bacon teacake offered and asked for the lean bacon on display, not the lump of fat being offered.

The assistant said she could not change it – that is until I refused to pay up.

I should have walked. With a cup of coffee it came to £5.55.

Never again. No wonder the cafe was empty.

DB

Crosland Moor

Value for money

IN reply to S J Paul’s letter about the sandwich rip-off at a local cafe, I have recently discovered a new coffee shop in town with very reasonable prices, a comprehensive menu and lovely owners.

It’s Cafe Society on Byram Street which opened earlier this year.

I recently had a delicious toasted currant tea cake and pot of tea for £3. Great value.

A Kershaw

Crosland Moor

More defence cuts

THE Ministry of Defence is planning yet again to reduce the numbers of men who fight for our country.

The army, the air force and the navy have already been tampered with. If this is allowed to carry on we will have nothing left with which to defend ourselves.

The Ministry of Defence should be renamed The Ministry of the White Flag!

Our politicians should stop their posing around the world pretending they can solve everything, when in reality they can solve nothing for the betterment of our country.

Brenda Holroyd

Netherthong