AROUND 60 people turned out on a wet, cold evening to joint in the debate about the future of social care at Malvern Cube last week.

Panel members Tom Wells, Liberal Democrat county councillor and chair of adult care and well being overview and scrutiny panel, Robin Lunn, Labour county councillor, Philip Talbot chief executive of Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Cathy Jackson-Read of the Stand Up for Care campaign shared their experiences and answered a wide range of questions from a diverse audience.

The absence of any Conservative Councillor or MP was greeted with dismay by the audience who had been keen to hear the local leadership present their perspective on social care, although a statement from Harriet Baldwin MP was read out.

Three key themes emerged from the debate: dwindling support for adults with learning disabilities, concern about standards of care in residential homes and anger regarding profiteering from private companies taking over public services.

The Comet Group, a group of people with learning disabilities from Malvern, presented an impassioned statement about how they feel let down by the changes made by the county council in care and support for their members. They cited a lack of regular personal support and in particular no help to visit GPs and other medical services.

Stand Up for Care’s next event aims to take the issues raised directly to council leaders at County Hall. “If the leadership at County Hall won’t come to us we will take the campaign to them,” said Cathy Jackson-Read.

Stand Up for Care is urging local people to share their personal stories and experiences about social care and will present them directly to members at a full council meeting in the spring. You can post your experience on the Facebook site or email standupforcare@gmail.com.

Daniel Walton