Madam,

I read with interest the brief but important article ‘Contracts could save council cash’ (Cambrian News, 18 April).

From reading the article, it would appear that Cllr Alun Williams has announced a £36m expenditure by the county council on social care, but in such a way as is likely to leave the average person no wiser as to what the money is being spent on.

The Cabinet seem to have agreed to enter into two contracts, the first providing “bespoke packages of care”. The legislation of the last 25 years has been aimed towards making the service fit the need and not vice-versa, so nothing much new there. Unless it puts more emphasis on obliging hardpressed families and friends to provide even more support than at present.

The second contract deals with “domiciliary care and supported living services”, which presumably means that the first contract is related to residential and nursing home placements. If this is the case, why couldn’t the council be more explicit, unless this is the first indication that remaining council-run homes are to be privatised.

This is a move which would certainly ‘simplify’ things for the county council but would be a backward step for the people of Ceredigion. If Cllr Williams sees these developments as potentially a way of keeping more people requiring nursing care ‘in county’ this aspect would be indeed welcome. Perhaps Cllr Williams could explain how he sees this coming about.

The county council also, again, has failed to inform us of the nature of the contracts.

Yours etc, George Holloway, on behalf of North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care.

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