Ossett's York House care home welcomes Mary's support

Residents and staff at York House, a centre that cares for 20 people with a variety of disabilities, have welcomed the support of Wakefield MP Mary Creagh in their campaign to stop the government’s plan to withdraw Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from people in residential care homes.

Residents and staff are campaigning against the government’s planned withdrawal of the mobility component of DLA for people in residential care. Livability, a leading disability charity, invited Mary to the centre to meet with staff and residents to discuss their concerns and talk about what can be done about the plans.

Currently the mobility component is used by disabled people to fund specialist transport such as powered wheelchairs, accessible taxis and mobility cars. The withdrawal would affect the residents’ ability to live independently and conduct day to day activities such as: going to work or college, accessing day centres, visiting their families, seeing their GP and other healthcare professionals, socialising, voting and going on holiday.

Mary said: “Many constituents have written to me who are angry at the Tory-led government’s plan to withdraw the mobility component of DLA for people in residential care homes. It is so unfair. I was pleased to visit York House and meet with residents and staff to hear their concerns. My Labour colleagues and I will continue to try and get this unfair plan changed.”

Helen Holt, York House Manager said:

“The service users at York House appreciated Mary Creagh taking the time to come & listen to their concerns about proposed cuts to the DLA. She listened to each individual concern and gave answers accordingly. We all felt supported by these actions.”