Praise for MP’s fight over social care

When we enjoy a fair trade cuppa we know that people who farm tea in Malaysia, Kenya and Rwanda are getting a fair deal for their hard work and control over funds for vital community services but this move from Sainsbury’s will change all that and could mean the end of fair trade altogether

Instead of rigorous standards and independent audits, Sainsbury’s will set its own criteria, leaving both shoppers and THE ink has hardly dried on the ballot papers and I note our newly elected Colne Valley MP Thelma Walker (pictured) has started in asking the responsible Minister “to agree that it is time to consider bringing the social care sector back into public ownership to remove the profit-making aspect of looking after the most vulnerable in our society.”

This is long-overdue considering particularly the most recent report from the Care Quality Commission in which it shows many private residential care homes are failing to meet the needs of residents. In fact, there are reports of assaults by ‘care’ staff on vulnerable service users and some have resulted in prosecutions.

I trust Thelma Walker will also remind the minister of the poor working conditions, particularly for those members of the service who are providing domiciliary support, maintaining many in the community with little consideration for those providing the service going from door to door and at all times of the day and whatever the weather.