Disabled man left 'unable to sleep' after care funding cut without warning

A disabled man has said he was left “unable to sleep” after his care funding was cut without warning.

Calum Grevers, who has muscular dystrophy, relies on carers to provide 24 hour support.

However, in January, he was sent a placement care student to reassess his needs, which he said was in order to reduce the cost of his care package.

After this, he faced weeks of worry, as the funding to meet his lifestyle needs gradually decreased.

“I think people don’t realise the kind of impact it has on me personally”, he told STV News.

“I’ve not been sleeping, I’ve been worrying about this constantly because obviously [care support] is the most important thing that I get.”

Calum, who achieved his dream of moving out of his parents’ home after raising more than £54,000 through a crowdfunder, remains unconvinced a National Care Service would make a difference, but believes reform is needed.

He said: “I’ve got like 24 hour support from the council to enable me to live independently and do everything I want to do, to work, to socialise, to, you know, do all aspects of life.

“If people have long term permanent conditions, what’s the point in wasting money reassessing and reevaluating their needs.

“They’re not going to change, so it doesn’t make any real sense.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said “We have reviewed matters regarding this case and have taken immediate action to rectify the situation.

“We sincerely apologise for any distress and inconvenience caused.”

Politics

Scottish Government scraps National Care Service plan

First announced by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2021, the flagship policy would have seen the creation of a new dedicated service.

On Thursday, the Scottish Government abandoned its National Care Service plan.

However, Scotland’s health secretary has insisted that plans for a National Care Service remain alive despite further delays and at First Ministers’ Questions at Holyrood, John Swinney reiterated the SNP’s commitment to the plan.

He said: “The government will take its time to ensure we get the proposals right, and bring forward proposals that can command parliamentary support.”

Swinney said he recognised the level of opposition, but said groups in the care sector were “encouraging and indeed pleading with us” to go ahead with the bill.

He added: “Disabled people’s organisations, carers and service users have pressed the government to take forward the National Care Service.”

Scotland’s social care minister Maree Todd has said she is “absolutely committed” to delivering a new National Care Service amid ongoing delays, insisting the status quo is “not acceptable”.

She replied: “We are absolutely committed to delivering the National Care Service.

“The Bill team have heard from thousands of people over the last few years who are really struggling to access social care in this country.

“Derek Feeley’s review of adult social care was very clear in what it recommended. He was absolutely certain that we needed to establish a National Care Service underpinned by a human rights based approach and giving a voice to people with lived experience at every level.”