Daughters plea for father to be cared for at home (From Northwich Guardian)

Daughters' plea over continuing care for father

1:20pm Saturday 1st August 2009 in News By Gina Bebbington

TWO Northwich women are frightened for their father’s future if he is forced to live in a care home.

Tracy Phillips and Kerrie Leather hoped the NHS could help with the cost of Philip Leather’s 24-hour care at his home in Porter Drive.

But, although he is eligible for continuing care, Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust say it is too expensive to look after the 60-year-old in his own bungalow and he will have to live in a care home.

Tracy said: “They’re just going for the cheapest option.

“Had they said at the start there is a limit of this much and if the care package exceeds it they won’t pay or he will go in a home we wouldn’t have bothered.”

The 29-year-old, who has been off work with stress for three months because of the situation, added: “I would remortgage my house and pay myself before he goes in a home.”

Philip, a former van driver for Roberts Bakery, suffers from multiple sclerosis, dementia and diabetes and has needed 24-hour care for three years.

He is totally dependant on his three carers who stay with him 24 hours a day in three shifts.

This care, part funded by Social Services and Philip himself, costs £1,722.07 a week.

A care home would cost £700 a week.

Tracy said: “It’s the cheapest option to stick him in a home and forget about him but he would just give up and that’s what we’re scared of.

“He needs one-to-one care.

“If he’s in his own bungalow he’s happy and keeps fighting – he’s quite strong-willed.

“Before he had 24-hour care he was in a home but he wouldn’t eat.

“He just goes downhill and he would be dead by Christmas, but that’s been ignored.”

The Guardian contacted Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT for a comment about their policy but no-one was available to comment before we went to press yesterday, Tuesday.