33 replies to this topic

[curbyi]

Scribbler, on 28 August 2011 - 12:08 PM, said:

My "Personal Opinion" on means tests and CHC is this: -

Why should someone who is extremely wealthy not have to contribute something for their care. If a Millionaire received CHC they wouldn't contribute a penny; is this fair.

I was injured serving my Country but my 100% War Disablement Pension is still means tested. I'm a believer in contributing something for my care needs, so I'm happy to. I've been managing my own care and employing Carers for 16 years using the DP system, apart from a few problems its been fine.

Although there are some pilot schemes on managing your own CHC, the majority of CHC recipients have to use Agency Care. This is expensive for the Health Service compared to using DP; the Care Agency makes a fortune but pay their Carers peanuts.

As I'm old, and been injured over "Half a Century" my health needs are greater now. My SS keep trying to get me on CHC but I don't want that.

There is only so much money to go round the Health Service, so if a wealthy person pays nothing for their care then someone else losses out; maybe a cancer patient. As my wife died from cancer I would hate to think she couldn't get the drugs she needed because a wealthy person was on CHC.

I'm certainly not against people receiving the care they need, I'm just against the system, which can be abused.

The Member who knows all there is to know about DP and CHC is Tinbasher. If he writes something then its correct. Tinbasher has helped me a few times; he's well worth listening to.

Scribb's

We speck with one voice hear Scribb's
It's the same with winter fuel allowance why will the wealthy get it regardless and forum members like me will be in fuel poverty this winter.

[eighty8]

Tinbasher, on 28 August 2011 - 09:41 PM, said:

88 PM me with your location in the UK.

Tin

Hi Tinbasher,

I am living in Devon near Okehampton.

Eighty8

[Scribbler]

eighty8, on 28 August 2011 - 03:55 PM, said:

Hi Scibb's,

So many things I agree with in your post. But!

My dear wife has always been my main carer, but we are both getting older now, so feeling the strain!

I was using my county SS department Direct Payments scheme for about 12 years and my care was determined as 50% medical need and 50% social care on a time allocated basis. During that time I used an agency but mainly employed my own staff (with all that that entailed).

The NHS were quite happy to contribute to fund the medical part of my care (bowel and bladder management) and I was assessed, means tested and contributed for the social care (assisted showering and dressing etc).

As years passed the increasing contribution for the social care became a drain on my resorces so I started the process of applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding.

Having proved my eligibility for the very tight criteria required, I was granted NHSCHCF. However the PCT wanted to solve their problem by finding me a bed in a home mainly occupied by EMI or a bed in a local community hospital. This solution would distroy our family life!

My dispute is (like you) with the system.

How come the NHS was prepared to contribute to the county SS department for my medical care, but now having accepted full resposibility for my care they are unable (it is apparently illegal) to set up an individual Direct Payment scheme now? I have heared of Independant User Trusts, but these too are expensive operations to run.

I am now trying to get my county Primary Care Trust to join the pilot scheme for 'Direct Payments for Health Care' so I do not have to use expensive live in 24/7 Care Agencies and can organize my own care arrangements to suit our family life.

I am waiting with baited breath! but these things take such time!

Eight8

Hi Eighty8,

Please do as Tinbasher suggests and send him a PM that way you will get a more personal answer. I can certainly sympathise with your predicament. Getting old for the able-bodied can be stressful but for people like us who rely on others for so much, it can be soul destroying at times.

Before I reached the age of 65 I had an allocated social worker but once you are over 65 you are handed over from the adult section to the "Geriatric" section. Ever since then I have not had an allocated social worker, so I have no real contact if things go pear shaped.

When you were using your original system and contributing something for your care,if you were struggling to cope financially than your contribution should have been lowered; did you apply for this?

I know what you mean about being put in a home or hospital. It would be devastating for you to be parted from your wife who has been your main carer for many years. Looking at it purely financially, it would be more expensive for your local Health Authority than keeping you at home, this is what is so ridiculous about the whole system.

Publicity is a marvellous thing if you use it correctly. At one stage I was getting nowhere with my local SS, but as soon as I replied to their e-mails, making sure I had CC my MP, the opposition and local newspaper, I soon got a positive response from my local SS.

Due to this economic situation all local authorities are trying to make huge cuts so someone has to suffer. It's rarely the faceless suits at the top, it's people like us that are totally dependent on care from someone. I agree with you about not wanting expensive agency 24 x 7 care; I can understand you just want to manage things yourself so you get the care that you need. It all sounds so simple to us but bureaucracy gets in the way and complicates things.

I would like to reiterate what I wrote before. I am certainly not against people getting the care they need, even if they don't contribute towards their care. I'm just against this ridiculous two tier system where a millionaire, plus the wealthy who can afford to contribute something can be on CHC and not contribute a penny just because it's classed as health care.

Eighty8, I sincerely hope you get the care you deserve and look forward to reading any progress reports that you might like to post here. Good luck.

Scribb's

[Tinbasher]

88

Let me have a ferret around and see what I might find. You may well have covered all your bases.

The Disabled Peoples Organisation I work with runs a scheme which isn't health DPs but allows people with long standing DP move to CHC but keep thier trusted and experienced PAs. This is outside the pilot schemes.

If you have a contact in health who is interested maybe we could put them in touch with their counterpart in Cumbria. Sometimes knowing that it has been done elsewhere makes them feel safe to try anything new.

Tin