‘Cut off’ woman humbled by offers

The 96-year-old woman whose access to home help hangs in the balance has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the public.

Levin’s Trixie Cottingham has lived alone for 31 years since her husband died, and for the past few years has relied on a cleaning service of 90 minutes a week to do the jobs she can’t.

Earlier this month she received a letter from the provider of that service, Midcentral District Health Board, telling her she would be cut off.

Cottingham has appealed the decision.

Since the Manawatu Standard broke the story last week, however, she has been inundated with offers from the public willing to fill the void should she lose her appeal.

‘‘It is very humbling, it really is, I have been overwhelmed with all this from complete strangers,’’ she said ‘‘They are just so genuine.’’ Cottingham is meeting with officials on Friday to further discuss her case. No services will be cut until after a review is conducted.

Midcentral have said the review will be done under urgency.

Cottingham said she was contacted by people from Wellington and Palmerston North offering to do her cleaning for free. The Manawatu Standard also received several messages from the public keen to help her out.

‘‘I had so many [offers]. One lady said ‘I will come and pay for it myself’.

‘‘They are so considerate and kind.’’

Labour health spokeswoman Annette King said Cottingham’s case was not isolated, as other DHBS looked to make similar changes.

‘‘It’s a bigger issue. It is heartless, shortsighted, and penny pinching.’’

Midcentral chief executive Kathryn Cook said they spoke to Cottingham and an appointment was planned for this week.

‘‘This is a matter of priority for us, and an assessor will be visiting Mrs Cottingham in her home so they can give full consideration to her personal circumstances.’’

Health Minister Dr Jonathon Coleman denied the policy changes were ‘‘penny pinching’’.

‘‘Health has remained the Government’s number one funding priority. Budget 2016 delivers on that by investing an extra $2.2 billion in health over four years for new initiatives and to meet cost pressures and population growth.’’

The Government’s investment in health will reach $16.1 billion in 2016/17 – a record, Coleman said.

‘‘Claims by critics that health funding has been cut are incorrect.’’

Over the past eight years, health funding had kept ahead of demographic pressure and inflation, he said.