Giving Kirklees Home Care Service users a voice

Oct 19 2009 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giving Kirklees Home Care Service users a voice

A CAMPAIGN is under way to battle controversial home care changes

Brigid Harbour, from Marsden, has 25 years’ experience in health and social care and is fronting a campaign to fight changes to Kirklees home care services.

She wants to give the vulnerable, elderly and disabled an opportunity to voice their concerns about the dramatic alterations to the way they are cared for in their own homes.

Since the Examiner reported on the home care changes earlier this month, letters have flooded into the newsroom from readers who have been hit by the controversial changes.

Some people have had visits from up to eight carers a week – while many have new carers who don’t know what their individual needs are.

The result is that people have been left scared and feeling helpless.

Home carers, service users and their families are invited to join 56-year-old Brigid to fight the changes.

She also wants to help them voice any concerns they may have in the future.

Her elderly mum, 96-year-old Norah Dooher from Slaithwaite, is one of the many service users she wants to represent.

Former home care worker Brigid said: “The Examiner has printed so many letters from people – but that will just be the tip of the iceberg.

“Some people won’t be able to speak out or will feel they’ll be getting their carers into trouble.