CATERING
The Shape of UK meals on wheels services The NACC commissioned the Association for Public Service Excellence to carry out a survey of meals on wheels across the UK during September and October 2014. The information below covers 211 councils.
Country England
Region
East of England East Midlands London
North East North West South East South West
West Midlands
Northern Ireland
Scotland Wales UK
He added: “The NACC strongly believes the government should look at making meals on wheels a statutory responsibility for councils to help protect frontline services for vulnerable older people.”
A Service in Crisis For Meals on Wheels Week 2014, the NACC commissioned and published research that defined the true shape of meals on wheels services in the UK and the impact of budget cuts.
The survey of 211 top-tier councils revealed that a third of councils no longer provide a meals on wheels service. Among those that still do, 51% expected to see service reductions in the year ahead.
As a result of funding cuts to adult social care and changes to assessment criteria, the number of people eligible for meals on wheels has fallen. The number of meals served has dropped from 40 million per year 10 years ago to 19 million.
There are also concerns about inconsistency across the UK. Only 25% of authorities still provide meals on wheels in the North East compared with 100% in Northern Ireland, where
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Meal Cost Average
£4.18 £3.97 £3.68 £2.97 £3.79 £4.05 £4.56 £3.91
Yorkshire & The Humber £4.10
Number of councils providing meals on wheels
64% 88% 69% 25% 48% 67% 71% 60% 50%
100% 94%
59% 66%
Country Average
£3.95 £1.50 £2.95
£3.78 £3.62
the service is commissioned by Health and Social Care Trusts.
Neel Radia continued: “The meals on wheels service vastly improves the quality of life of older people living independently in the community. It helps maintain their health with a nutritious daily meal, but perhaps even more importantly, it gives them a social lifeline. We live in a busy society and, sadly, many older people do not enjoy regular visits from family and neighbours. Meals on wheels can fill this void. Isn’t it reassuring to think that such a service is available for our loved ones and even us in the future? We must ensure that it continues to serve the older people of today and tomorrow so that hunger, isolation and loneliness are never the only options.”
Neel concluded: “Our population is steadily ageing and it is estimated that in 2020, 40% of the UK population will be over 65 – that’s only five years away. Taking on board the cost of malnutrition and hospital admissions, and the ageing population, the question we have to ask is can we really afford not to have a meals on wheels service in the UK?”
www.thenacc.co.uk - 25 -
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