Meals on Wheels Postcode Lottery

June 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Well the latest postcode lottery news to hit the headlines is how the elderly, one of the most vulnerable groups, are being hit by hugely differing levels of service received from some councils.

Meals on wheels is quite literally a lifeline for those elderly people who use them, but some councils are spending less than £4 a week while others are spending almost 30 times that much.  This follows warnings that increasing numbers of older people are arriving in hospital showing signs of malnutrition.

A study based on official statistics by the data analysts, Ssentif, reported that councils spend an average of just under £34 per person per week on meals for elderly people including meals on wheels services and luncheon clubs.   Although while pensioners in Hammersmith and Fulham in west London have £110.77 per week spent on their meals, Stoke-onTrent City Council spends just £3.84.  Similarly Warrington in Cheshire spends just £3.85, which based on an average of six meals a week works out at around 64p per meal.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, of the National pensioners’ Convention, said: “It is a scandal and it is one of a number of postcode lotteries (http://www.simply-postcode-lookup.com/geographic_data.htm) right through the social care system – whether it is how much you pay for someone to help you get out of bed in the morning or how much you get for meals on wheels.  We are seeing people going in to hospital being malnourished and we are seeing a massive postcode lottery in the cost and quality of meals across the country.”

Michelle Mitchell, director general of Age UK said: “Councils need to get value for money in everything they do but rather than cutting back on vital services such as meals on wheels, they should be learning best practice from other councils. It’s hard to imagine how a council can provide a balanced nutritious and appetising meal for 64p.  It is important for older people to have access to a healthy hot meal every day. The provision of meals on wheels can play a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of many older people.”

Judy Aldred, managing director of Ssentif said: “All councils are currently under pressure to make savings, so it’s very interesting to see the huge variations in the amount spent on providing meals for older people … the data does raise questions about the quality of meals being provided by those amongst the lower spending councils.”

Campaigners said the figures exposed a “scandalous postcode lottery” (http://www.simply-postcode-lookup.com/windows_desktop_sof...) in provision for the elderly.  We are governed by one government, which means there should be one rule for everyone, especially with such life impacting decisions purely because of a postcode (http://www.simply-postcode-lookup.com/index.htm) and where you live.