Critics voice concerns as Lifeline service changes move forward in North Yorkshire

Changes to the Lifeline emergency helpline service for elderly residents in North Yorkshire have sparked criticism due to a lack of consultation with service users.

North Yorkshire Council plans to overhaul the Lifeline service, aiming to ensure its consistency and sustainability across the county.

The decision, agreed upon by senior Conservative councillors, was called in by opposition members worried about the potential negative effects on vulnerable residents.

Under the new plans, monthly or quarterly visits to Lifeline users in Richmondshire, Harrogate, and Selby will be reduced to annual visits.

Further service alterations include the ending of the enhanced feature where staff respond to alarms by visiting users' homes, alongside the unification of fees.

Today, members of the council’s housing and leisure overview and scrutiny committee discussed the call-in request from opposition members.

Independent councillor Stuart Parsons shared that residents in Richmond were "furious" about the proposed changes, emphasising the success of the current system and the importance of listening to those affected.

Labour councillor Steve Shaw-Wright echoed concerns over insufficient consultation with users, their families, and third-party organisations.

Conversely, Conservative councillor Cliff Lunn backed the changes, stating the necessity of a unified cost-based system akin to recent council tax adjustments.

Assistant Director for Housing Andrew Rowe highlighted the financial challenges, indicating that maintaining the service's additional elements without taxpayer support isn't viable.

A proposal to take no further action was passed by the committee with Conservative support, despite calls for a full council consideration.

The Lifeline service previously varied in provision across districts before local government reorganisation in 2023, leading to unequal service distribution in the region.

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