Shadow Health Secretary John Healey highlights care homes plight in North Yorkshire (From York Press)

Shadow Health Secretary John Healey highlights care homes plight in North Yorkshire

8:36am Thursday 25th November 2010 in News By Richard Catton , richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

John Healey, the shadow Secretary of State for Health, chats with Annie Waudby, left and Rita Anfield during his visit to the Haxby Hall care home

THE plight of North Yorkshire care homes threatened with closure has been highlighted by Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary.

John Healey, who was in York yesterday to speak at a conference in the city, joined City of York Council’s Labour group leader, James Alexander, on a visit to Haxby Hall elderly persons’ home, where they spoke to residents.

Mr Healey discussed budget cuts with residents and said he was hearing “day in day out from people whose services are being cut, with often the most vulnerable members of society losing out.”

Last week, The Press reported that North Yorkshire County Council was considering cost-cutting measures to the tune of £20 million in the next five years.

One idea is for elderly residents to be moved to facilities run alongside businesses and voluntary groups.

A report going before the council’s care and independence overview and scrutiny committee this week said residential placements for elderly people, intensive personal care packages and carers’ support networks could also face reductions. Accompanying Mr Healey yesterday, Coun Alexander said: “People in York are rightly concerned that when the City of York Council’s ruling Lib Dem group brings forward its own budget proposals in the new year, they will contain similar measures.

“I want people to know that in these really difficult times, Labour’s priority will always be the most vulnerable members of our community.

“The news from North Yorkshire is another reminder of how the cuts imposed by the Lib Dem/Conservative Government are hitting front-line services already.” Last week Derek Law, corporate director of adult and community services at North Yorkshire County Council, said: “Is it possible to protect the same number of vulnerable adults and children in North Yorkshire communities for less money? The honest answer is probably not, but we can minimise the damaging impact if we think and behave differently.”