Wansteadium

EXCLUSIVE
Redbridge Council is scrapping Meals on Wheels from Tuesday but we can reveal that it won’t be saving any money by doing so – even though rising costs were the justification for the decision. A Freedom of Information application has revealed no money will be saved, because the costs were covered by the people who received the meals.

Wansteadium reader Barry, whose mother has been receiving meals, applied for the information and received the following statement:

Earlier this month we reported that the scheme was being axed on cost grounds, and that recipients had been sent a leaflet about their future options, which amounted to private providers, internet shopping or lunch clubs.

The justification for stopping the service was explicitly that the council could no longer afford to provide the service. A statement still available on the council website says:

We looked at many different ways to continue the service but the decision was taken that we would no longer be able to afford to provide the community meals service.

So Redbridge could do with answering some questions, in particular:

1. How many residents were receiving Meals on Wheels up until the end of July 2017? What was the result of the individual assessments which Redbridge promised, and what alternative provision is being made for those residents?
2. What is the cost of any alternative provision?
3. At what point was it known that Redbridge would not actually be saving any money by stopping the scheme?
4. Now that it is known that no money will be saved by scrapping Meals on Wheels will Redbridge reconsider its decision?

If anyone in the council is reading and wants to respond, we will print the answers in full. Just email us at info@wansteadium.com

 

 

Longstanding Wanstead children’s clothes shop Bambini has been broken in to – amazingly through its outside wall. Burglars broke through the wall on Monday night/Tuesday morning and stole stock from the shop. Anyone who witnessed anything can report it online through Crimestoppers here or by ringing 0800 555 111.

Redbridge Council is pulling the plug on its meals on wheels service from next week – but has offered elderly residents advice on how to use online supermarkets instead.

The service will end on 31 July following increasing costs and a decline in demand. The council decided in January it could no longer afford to run the service.

Instead it has set out a range of alternatives, including private meal services, online supermarkets, and lunch clubs including the Age UK service at the Corner House.

One furious Wansteadium reader, whose mother will now no longer receive meals, wrote:

“Meals on Wheels supplies far more than a nutritious meal; the daily visit from the cheery Meals on Wheels delivery folk is often the only human contact many of our elderly folk get. Meals on Wheels not only fights malnutrition but loneliness as well, boosting mental wellbeing alongside physical health. People who would otherwise live in care homes can continue to lead independent lives in their own homes, incidentally saving money for the taxpayer. Damaging the physical and mental well being of our elderly folk puts more pressure on our hospitals and NHS staff, negating any savings Redbridge Council may claim they are making. Maintaining good nutrition and the human contact that comes with this, is vital when ensuring that our elderly are able to live independently in good health for as long as possible. Cutting this service puts vulnerable, elderly members of the community at risk and will also end up costing the country far more money.

Redbridge did not respond to our requests for comment, but did tell the reader that an assessment of each user was taking place. Its press release says:

Where the assessment identifies that the needs of the person using the service have increased, arrangements will be made to ensure that support is in place to provide the help they need to source, prepare and eat a meal ensuring their nutritional needs are met on a daily basis. This may require a package of care to be put in place.

It’s not completely clear what this might involve.

 

 

Judith’s – long one of Wanstead’s most celebrated features – appears to be on the way out. Mentions of Wanstead on BBC London will tumble.

Unnamed TV programme being filmed this morning at Wanstead Hairdressers in Woodbine Place.

Wanstead Community Gardeners write:

“Many of you have admired the two old metal water tanks filled with flowers which are currently brightening up the corner of Mansfield Road. Wanstead Community Gardeners are planing a similar project outside Wanstead Underground Station and have been donated a water tank which is ready for planting. We need at least one more tank to place beside it and would love to hear from you if you have an old metal water tank to donate to this project. For which you will, of course, deserve our undying tanks. You can contact us on wanstead.community.gardeners@gmail.com.”