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Plan Care scandal: ‘Since my dad’s been transferred I’ve seen such a change in him’
A WOMAN whose bedridden father fell victim to the faults of a Vale care firm is counting her blessings since he was transferred to another company.
Kirsteen O’Donnell first contacted The Bucks Herald in November last year to tell of her anguish with the state in which her father Patrick was left in by Bucks County Council contracted domiciliary care firm Plan Care.
As a result of their neglect, 64-year-old Patrick was being left to lie in his own faeces for hours at a time, and often missed his medication.
However, he has since been transferred by Bucks County Council to care operator Universal Care, who she says have been fantastic.
“I cannot fault them at all,” she said.
“Since my dad’s been with Universal Care I’ve seen such a change in him.
“He’s so much happier now – he’s even started talking again and he’s put on weight. I’m just grateful he’s been transferred.”
Plan Care has had it contracts reduced by 40 per cent since investigations were carried out by Bucks County Council, meaning the firm now only caters for people in Aylesbury.
The council has however stated that the people which are being looked after by Plan Care are the less complicated cases, which have chosen to remain with the firm.
“I just don’t understand how they can still have the contract for Aylesbury,” added Kirsteen.
“I think that it’s a danger to the people of Aylesbury for them still to be operating – taking into account the state in which my dad was being left in.
“I just worry about the vulnerable people who, unlike my dad, don’t have anyone to stand up for them.
“I still think that Bucks County Council really does have a lot to answer for.
“Transferring all the care patients from a few providers to just the one was bound to cause problems.
“I know they needed to save money – but this is people’s lives and health which were are talking about here.”
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Weather for Aylesbury
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
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