Massive increase in charges for transport to day care services

Users of services provided by Rochdale Community Transport travelling to and from Adult Day Care Centres will see a massive hike in the price they usually pay.

Service users are concerned that the increase will see them pay an extra 38% on top of what they already pay for the service.

A spokesman for Rochdale Borough Council said: “RMBC Adult Care no longer commissions the transport service for service users attending the Woodclough and Springhill day services.

“People are required to fund their own transport provision and are being made aware of the available options including Rochdale Community Transport (RCT), the Volunteer Drivers Scheme and the Ring and Ride Service.”

Rochdale Community Transport has told Rochdale Online that they were subsidising transport charges as they were receiving some funding from the Day Care Centres. This funding has now been stopped.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Community Transport said: “Transport now has to be arranged and paid for by the individual using the service, thus increasing the charges.”

RCT said they reviewing the fares they charge for this service. The day centre managers were informed of this rate of increase by email on 12 July 2013 and that the increase would apply from the 22 July 2013. This was extended and took effect on Monday 29 July. 

For those service users who attend Woodclough and Springhill with Mental Health needs, standing orders will not be required to be set up until the 12 August 2013 and until then the service users will continue to pay cash.

The spokesman for Rochdale Borough Council also said: “The centre managers are offering as much support as they can to service users and carers to understand the increase and the standing order process.

“The Operations Manager has met with RCT again to work out how it can be ensured that service users will not be charged if they do not attend due to illness or respite, etc.

“It has been agreed that the standing order will be set up every quarter and the day service will keep figures of journeys paid for and journeys made so any differences can be reconciled when a new standing order is set up for the next quarter.”