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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 11 July 2008

Age Concern’s loss raises questions
for elders’ care

• LABOUR councillors have called for urgent action to protect the future of Age Concern Westminster following the loss of the contract to run three day centres for older people.
The three – Pullen, Sherborne and Elgin day centres – will now be run by Housing 21 who run the Tresham day centre on Lisson Green.
Westminster City Council say that awarding the contracts to Housing 21 will result in a better service to older people and, if this is so, then it is to be welcomed.
But another serious question now arises. Age Concern Westminster will be losing a contract which amounts to nearly £1million a year over the next five years.
The implications could have serious consequences for other services which Age Concern provide for Westminster residents.
Labour councillors are now seeking a review of the council’s procurement process so that common sense can be included in the decision-making, particularly when a decision could affect a range of other services provided for residents.
It seems plain daft that the implications of a decision cannot be taken into account before the decision is taken, particularly when it involves a long-established local organisation such as Age Concern.
We are also calling on the council to meet Age Concern so that a practical way forward can be agreed which protects all the other services which Age Concern provides for Westminster’s older residents.
We also want the council to give Age Concern the opportunity to win new work with older people in the future.
If the council’s promise that “every older person matters” is to mean anything then Age Concern Westminster should be part of that promise.
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
Leader of the Labour Group
City Hall, SW1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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