New service for aids which keep people living at home is proposed

A service providing equipment vital for allowing some people to live independently in Rotherham could be set to change - with a leap in costs.

But if approved, welding the service into a body also covering Sheffield and Doncaster could also mean a better service for users.

Rotherham Council’s ruling cabinet is to consider the future of its Community Equipment Service, with a recommendation to enter into the new arrangement.

That could last for five years, with an option to increase the timescale to a decade, with a potential break-point - allowing the council to walk away - at eight years.

The scheme would be led by Sheffield City Council and would bring savings from the economy of scale allowed by three council areas buying in bulk.

It would also benefit those who use the service, cabinet papers say.

The current Rotherham-only contract is with a firm called Medequip, with the council putting £282,000 into the budget for last year, from a total of over £2.75m, made up from the health service.

Medequip provide equipment like walking aids and air mattresses, which help those with medical and social care needs.

Figures show Rotherham Council’s contribution could increase to £800,000 in future, however, but that is because it has emerged numbers of social care clients - which are the council’s responsibility - have formed a larger part of the total than had previously been anticipated.

Other options open to cabinet members, when they meet on September 14, would be to maintain an independent service, operated in-house, but they are not recommended by council officials.

It is suggested that a broader-reaching service would bring benefits for those in Rotherham who need support.