A Glasgow woman fears that her 85-year-old mother could be left “abandoned” because her daily visits by carers have been cut.

Janice Mills told healthandcare.scot she is picking up the slack herself after her mother’s social care package was removed. But Janice worries about what would happen if she got the virus, had to self-isolate and then could not look after her mother:

“All I want is an assurance that people who have to self-isolate will not find their relatives abandoned,” she said.

Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has cut back care services to those deemed most essential, healthandcare.scot revealed last week.

Former cleaner Doris Pope has been receiving a care package from Glasgow city council for eight years. Carers visit her twice a day to help her get up, make food and get ready for bed.

Her daughter Janice says the carers are “excellent” and says her mum enjoys the daily interaction. But that has now stopped.

She said: “On Friday I received a call from a coordinator for the HSCP. She informed me that my mum's evening carer was stopping. On Monday the call was to say all care was stopping.

“I do not object to doing more but I was worried when told that should I need to isolate for 14 days no care would be provided. That is my major concern.

“I understand the pressure staff are under but there must be a safety net.”

Other local authorities are thought to be reducing the level of support they provide due to covid-19. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman earlier this week promised the Scottish government would cover the cost of any additional spending on social care.

Glasgow HSCP says people should contact them if they unable to care for a loved one because they are self-isolating.

A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, in these most challenging and exceptional circumstances, we are being forced to make some very difficult decisions.

“Our staffing levels are currently reduced, due to people self-isolating and we must target our limited staffing resources on providing support to home care service users with the most critical need.

“We are also having to provide support for patients being discharged from hospital to free up beds for people affected by the virus.

“We understand that this situation is far from ideal and is concerning for families. We apologise most sincerely for this unprecedented interruption to care and support. It is not something we would want, but it is unavoidable while we help to tackle this public health emergency.

“Where a service user’s care needs change significantly or their support needs change, this can be discussed with our team of Social Care Assessors, as detailed in the letters to service users and their families.”

 

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