Brent Council posted the following press release yesterday:
Today the Daily Mirror publishes a story following up Brent Council's statement that includes an on-line poll on the issue. LINK
These are key quotes from the story from Mike Clark. Robbie Clark's son and Phil Porter, Brent Director of Adult Social Care. This story arouses strong emotions but can I ask readers to be restrained in how they frame their comments so as not to hurt people personally. Thank you.
Mike Clarke
Angry son Mike Clark, 58, said: "We handed the signatures in to the council on Thursday and we scheduled a meeting about them increasing their funding for my father's care, not deferred payment options, next week.
"Now they're claiming he's 'had his wishes granted', which is absolutely ridiculous.
"He has had no such thing. From what I understand, the deferred payment scheme will mean that they can get away without paying any more for his care, and when my father passes away, they will take the difference, plus a percentage and other fees, from the sale of his house.
"The issue isn't that he doesn't want to pay for his care at all - the issue is that Brent Council are trying to get away without actually spending any more money on a national hero."
Phil Porter
However, Phil Porter, Brent Council's Director for Adult Social Care, said: “Robbie Clark, supported by 187,000 petitioners, asked the council to find a way for him to stay in his home, receive his care by a live-in carer and not to have the worry over how it will be paid for.
“We have listened to Robbie and his supporters.
"We have made an offer of a deferred payment that gives Robbie exactly what he asked for.
"The council has offered to meet some of the costs of his care with the remaining costs set against the equity in his house.
"Although there will be less equity for Robbie’s heirs when the property is eventually sold, Robbie himself will have all his wishes granted in a way taxpayers can afford."
A former Second World War prisoner of war who campaigned to stay in his own home and receive social care from a specialist live-in carer, has had his wishes granted.UPDATE Saturday April 25th
Robbie Clark, 96, who survived the Nazi death march across Europe in 1945, needs 24 hour a day social care, and has fought to receive a more expensive care package than the one normally offered.
Around 187,000 people signed a petition calling for Mr Clark to be allowed to stay in his house.
We worked with his family to offer a solution which means Mr Clark can stay in his home while receiving the care he wants and not pay a penny in his lifetime.
Phil Porter, Director of Adult Social Care, said: “Our offer means Mr Clark can stay in his own home and receive the care which he wants, through a live in carer. He won’t have to worry about the cost, but neither will tax-payers have to foot all the bill.”
The ‘deferred payment’ is a new option available to councils, which only came into effect at the start of April 2015, enabling them to help meet the cost of care for older people in this way.
Under the proposal, the cost of the additional care will eventually be reimbursed to the council from the proceeds of the sale of the property.
Today the Daily Mirror publishes a story following up Brent Council's statement that includes an on-line poll on the issue. LINK
These are key quotes from the story from Mike Clark. Robbie Clark's son and Phil Porter, Brent Director of Adult Social Care. This story arouses strong emotions but can I ask readers to be restrained in how they frame their comments so as not to hurt people personally. Thank you.
Mike Clarke
Angry son Mike Clark, 58, said: "We handed the signatures in to the council on Thursday and we scheduled a meeting about them increasing their funding for my father's care, not deferred payment options, next week.
"Now they're claiming he's 'had his wishes granted', which is absolutely ridiculous.
"He has had no such thing. From what I understand, the deferred payment scheme will mean that they can get away without paying any more for his care, and when my father passes away, they will take the difference, plus a percentage and other fees, from the sale of his house.
"The issue isn't that he doesn't want to pay for his care at all - the issue is that Brent Council are trying to get away without actually spending any more money on a national hero."
Phil Porter
However, Phil Porter, Brent Council's Director for Adult Social Care, said: “Robbie Clark, supported by 187,000 petitioners, asked the council to find a way for him to stay in his home, receive his care by a live-in carer and not to have the worry over how it will be paid for.
“We have listened to Robbie and his supporters.
"We have made an offer of a deferred payment that gives Robbie exactly what he asked for.
"The council has offered to meet some of the costs of his care with the remaining costs set against the equity in his house.
"Although there will be less equity for Robbie’s heirs when the property is eventually sold, Robbie himself will have all his wishes granted in a way taxpayers can afford."
