15,000 could lose vital social care Vulnerable could be ones to suffer as coffers hit
MORE than 15,000 people in the North East could lose their vital social care support because of a council cash crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Labour has claimed that local authorities across the country will be forced to make devastating budget cuts to frontline services if government ministers backtrack on a promise to cover councils’ huge losses during the pandemic.
Newcastle City Council says the impact of Covid-19 has already put a £64m dent in the civic centre coffers, while the national shortfall could be as much as £10bn.
And there are now warnings that possible 21% budget cuts to balance the books if the government does not step in could lead to 225,000 adult social care places being put at risk across England.
Labour’s analysis says 15,460 places would go in the North East alone, with 1,485 fewer people receiving care in Newcastle.
City bosses say other key council services like libraries, leisure centres, road gritting, and street lighting could also be hit.
Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said “People in Newcastle will find these figures terrifying.
“Everyone in this community knows the sacrifice and the loss we have endured through the coronavirus crisis, and we all know the enormous strain on our carers, and our friends and family who rely on their care. It is beyond belief that the government is not standing by them in their hour of need.
“1,485 vulnerable people losing care in Newcastle would be a hammer blow.
“As leader of Newcastle City Council, my team and I will do whatever we can to shield those most in need from these cuts, but the reality is that if ministers don’t fulfil their promise and close the £10bn funding gap then frontline services will bear the brunt and our community will suffer.”
Labour has claimed that cutting 21% of council budgets across the country would be slashing £3.5bn from adult social care, £2bn from children’s care, and £700m from public health services.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told The Guardian: “We’re giving councils an unprecedented package of support, including £3.2bn emergency funding, to tackle the immediate pressures they have told us they’re facing.
“This is on top of English councils’ core spending power rising by over £2.9bn this financial year and today [Wednesday] we announced a further £600m to help reduce the infection rate in care homes.
“The government will continue to work closely with councils as the pandemic progresses to develop an ongoing assessment of costs as they support their communities through this national emergency.”
SHOOTING victim Darren March might not be alive today if it had not been for the actions of two quickthinking strangers.
That’s the view of the detective who brought gunman John Dees to justice.
The 33-year-old is now starting a jail sentence of 21 years after admitting attempted murder in connection with the broad daylight shotgun attack, which happened in Washington last year.
And Det Sgt Steve Brown, of Northumbria Police, has revealed how things could have been so different for the 28-year-old victim, who was blasted in the chest with Dees’ sawn-off shotgun.
He said: “It’s only by a sheer miracle that this is not a murder. I would say the whole reason this is not murder is because of the quick working of the local community down there.
“It was only because of their actions and our incredible NHS that this wasn’t a murder investigation. It’s only by a miracle that he’s survived.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Dees had followed Mr March in a car before summoning him to the passenger side window, lifting a sawn-off shotgun and shooting him.
Dees, who had been involved in a dispute with his victim, then fled the scene as Mr March slumped to the ground, fighting for his life.
Thankfully two passers-by came to the victim’s aid
“There were two witnesses who were going by who saw what happened. One managed to get the man into his car and take him to hospital,” Det Sgt Brown explained.
“And they rang ahead to the hospital so they were aware.
“Everyone was mindful that this man had had a shotgun discharged into the centre of his chest. If they had waited for an ambulance he wouldn’t have survived.
“They were just normal people going about their daily business and they reacted to the set of circumstances in front of them.
“I think they just got into the mindset that something needed to be done quickly and thankfully they did that.”
Thankfully the strangers got Mr March to hospital in time and his life was saved.
However, Det Sgt Brown said he is still on a very long road to recovery.
“He has recovered slowly. He’s clearly still got physical issues. There are still pellets in his internal organs, some of which can never be removed,” he explained.
“But it’s not only the physical harm, it’s also the psychological harm.
“It is something that is going to stay with him for a long time.”
Dees, who is of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing a firearm, namely a shotgun, with intent to endanger life.
He also admitted a charge of damaging property in relation to a Northumbria Police cell.
And Det Sgt Brown said the sentence passed had made the streets a safer place.
He added: “He’s just somebody that needs to be taken out of the community and needs to be put away. He’s clearly somebody that is a danger to the public.
“This person was travelling around with a loaded shotgun. What if somebody else had stopped in front of his car?”