Bournemouth multiple carer costs to see rise

Home care costs for some elderly and disabled people in Bournemouth who need more than one helper is to rise as the council bids to make savings.

Patients have been paying an hourly rate for care even if they require more than one helper.

But from April, individuals who have savings above £23,250 will have to pay for each carer they require.

Bournemouth council said it needed to make savings and could no longer fund the second carer with taxpayers' cash.

Phil Tuck, whose father needs two carers to help lift him following a stroke, said his care costs would double to about £1,200 a month.

'Review personal situations'

He said: "We have carers from the council three times a day for 30 minutes at a time. They are charging £16 an hour. We were told we were paying for the service not each carer otherwise we'll be paying £32.

"Now we've had a letter and they've changed their policy and we have to pay for two carers.

"All my father's care is two-handed, he needs both helpers.

"Out of the blue we have to arrange his finances to get double the money coming in."

Neil Smurthwaite, director of community care at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: "It is a big hike and one of the things I did when I wrote to them was to say if this was going to give you hardship let us know and we will review your situation.

"Up until now we have been funding the cost of the second carer and given the recession we are really having to tighten up what we can afford to fund."