The leader of the Conservatives for High Peak Borough Council says service users of Carelink have been left with ‘unnecessary alarm and worry’ as the service will cease.

Earlier in the summer the Labour-led High Peak Borough Council announced from the end of September the Carelink service will stop.

Carelink is an alarm system which enables elderly, vulnerable and disabled people to live independently by allowing them to call a contact centre and seek help from a trained member of staff 24-hours from anywhere in their home or garden.

The council said it made the ‘difficult decision to work towards closing this discretionary service by the end of September due to long-standing issues with maintaining safe staffing levels’.

Councillor Adie Hopkinson - leader of the High Peak Conservative Group has slammed the closure of the Carelink service.

placeholder image — Councillor Adie Hopkinson - leader of the High Peak Conservative Group has slammed the closure of the Carelink service.

However, Cllr Adie Hopkinson, leader of the Conservative group at High Peak Borough Council said: “Conservative councillors were not made aware of the proposals until it was too late to put forward alternatives.

“The claim that staff retention and recruitment is the sole cause is disputed by several witnesses who have contacted us with their accounts.”

At the time the decision to close the Carelink service was taken, he says there was no alternative provision in place.

Councillor Hopkinson said: “There has been a complete lack of preparation for the closure and alternative service providers should have been sought prior to the final decision.

“Users of the service have been causing unnecessary alarm and worry, with claims some needing medication.

“Letters have been sent from HPBC to service users, including some who have dementia and not their carers. Some are incapable of dealing with the letter.

“Understandably, service users are extremely worried about having to seek out a new provider for their service and at a higher cost.”

He says the conservatives were ‘extremely disappointed’ to hear the letters sent to users, giving details of an alternative provider had an incorrect phone number.

He added: “The majority of service users are elderly people who rely heavily on this service and the added stress would not have occurred if the proposed closure had been properly managed.”

Executive councillor for Housing, Fiona Sloman, added: “The decision to close Carelink was far from easy and was taken due to safeguarding issues.

“Our Carelink customers have always been our priority and they remain so as we work towards ending the service.”