Toby Perkins, Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate, has called on the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and Social Services to do all they can to ensure the RVS ‘Meals On Wheels’ service continues to provide meals to over a hundred elderly and vulnerable people in Derbyshire.

The RVS has decided that the service is no longer financially viable and will be closing on the 16th of June, leaving service users and their families concerned about how they will manage. Toby has met with representatives from the RVS and contacted senior managers, but the service is still scheduled for closure and redundancy notices issued to staff.

Toby visited one service user, Mr Douglas Fogg, a celebrated war hero who was recently awarded a medal by the Russian Federation for his role protecting Arctic convoys during the Second World War (http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/chesterfield-s-arctic-heroes-awarded-russian-medal-1-7998551) to discuss how important the service is to him.

Toby said, “Like many of the people who use this service, Douglas is keen to remain in his own home and maintain as much independence as possible. The meals he receives enable him to do this. If the RVS cannot run the service, I urge them to work with the County Council’s Adult Social Care team to ensure that a new provider is found before.”

Toby with Douglas Fogg, Kevin Fogg and Madeline Makarem
“Douglas has strong family support, but many other service users do not. This service is helping people to remain in the community, rather than being forced into residential care which would result in a far greater cost to the public purse. It is in the interests of everyone that this service is maintained.”

Toby with Douglas Fogg, Kevin Fogg and Madeline Makarem
Toby with Douglas Fogg, Kevin Fogg and Madeline Makarem
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