Cuts will leave vulnerable adults in Lambeth housebound, charity warns
9:31am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Where I Live By Rachel Blundy
Hundreds of mental health sufferers are at risk of becoming prisoners in their own homes following changes to a free travel pass scheme, a charity leader has warned.
About 400 people in Lambeth could lose their discretionary freedom passes this summer because of the council’s plans to introduce new eligibility criteria for claimants.
Lambeth Council currently issues 767 free travel passes to residents in the borough, at an estimated cost of £457,000 for 2012.
But users will have to apply to renew their passes next month and one charity claims the majority of users, many of whom suffer from serious mental health problems, face being rejected because of the new rules.
Mary Roberts, director of the Lambeth Mental Health & Disabled People's Action Group, said at least ten per cent of claimants would no longer be eligible for passes, and a further 50 per cent could lose out because of the complexities of the new system.
She said the council’s consultation on the proposed changes had been “flawed”, adding that many vulnerable residents would face a life of complete isolation if they lost access to free travel.
“Overall, it will be counter-productive and create more problems in the long run,” she said. “Taking freedom passes away is certainly going to remove many residents’ autonomy.”
Wai ha Lam, community engagement officer for Lambeth LINk, an independent healthcare organisation, said her team had worked closely with the council to ensure the scheme was not simply scrapped, and said they would continue to monitor the impact of any changes.
According to a report due to be discussed at the council’s Cabinet meeting on Monday, successful applicants will now have to show evidence of having a mental health condition which has lasted at least 12 months, and which has had a “substantial effect” on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
Moreover, they must prove their mental health results in a “serious impairment of social functioning” and puts them at risk of “isolation or social exclusion”.
Despite significant opposition from residents, applicants must also show they have monthly contact with a mental health professional.
In response, the council said omitting this condition would result in an increased number of successful applicants, making the scheme “financially unaffordable”.
The report further states that changes to the freedom pass system will ensure savings are made from 2013/14, but these will be counterbalanced by increased costs to the council.
Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Liberal Democrat group leader, said the report marked a “real blow” for those with serious mental health problems and said he would be challenging the proposals.
He said: “Getting out and about is vital to many people with poor mental health. It is a real life-line to so many people.
“Coupled with a regime of assessments and certification, [the changes] could be a real worry for people the council should be helping. This cut may not even save the council any money."
But councillor Jim Dickson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, insisted that government cuts meant provisions for discretionary freedom passes could not be maintained, adding that Lambeth continued to pay for more passes than most other London boroughs.
“We will ensure the needs of our most vulnerable residents are met but given the number of users in the system, some benefits will be reduced,” he said.
