Recent changes of contracts have left some elderly residents with no care services at all. This has been cause by a hand’s off approach by Conservative run Herts County Council.  As the care providers changed it became clear that the Council had not been monitoring the status of the previous contract and staff were left unable to work as they did not have the appropriate paperwork in place.

Liberal Democrats were made aware of the problem by a number of distressed residents who were not receiving the support they were entitled to. When this situation began to be rectified they were asked to double check their bills.

Hitchin Highbury District Councillor Paul Clark says: ‘It is worrying that this ever happened.  The County Council was very lucky this did not lead to a death of a resident. Liberal Democrat County Councillors are still concerned about the level of services residents are receiving and have referred the situation to the watchdog.  It will be interesting to see what they say in their report. We will continue to press for improvements to these important services.”