The Government’s “sick note” changes will hit vulnerable Cornwall residents the hardest, councilors say

At a meeting of Cornwall Council today (Tuesday 21 May), all parties raised concerns that the Conservative government’s proposals to make major changes to disability and sickness pay in a bid to get more people into work will hurt those more vulnerable people in the Duchy. the hardest.

Leigh Frost, Liberal Democrat councilor for Bodmin St Petroc’s, called on the council to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions opposing the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) changes tabled in the Government’s ‘Support for Modernisation’ Green Paper consultation. The changes would include stopping regular cash payments and instead giving applicants one-off grants for things like home adaptations.

Under the proposals, PIP claimants – disabled people and those suffering from health problems, including mental health conditions – would no longer have to request a formal ‘sickness note’ diagnosis from GPs, but could be assessed by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff.

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the current “disability benefits system is not working as intended” and reform was needed to ensure it “supports those who really need it most”. . The government said it would also tackle “spiraling costs”.

Cllr Frost tabled a motion entitled ‘Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Ill Health and Unemployment’ which also called on Cllr Andy Virr, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health, to write to the Secretary of State for Health calling for an increase in the public budget. Health Grant to provide the long-term funding needed to implement 14 recommendations made by the Director of Public Health to reduce health inequalities in Cornwall.

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Cllr Frost said: “Gandhi once said that the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. That is why I have brought this motion to you today. In the government’s new green paper supporting modernisation, we are seeing a distinct change in approach to how we treat our most vulnerable, and it is one I do not agree with.

“Over the last few years this council has worked very hard to help people get back into work and do it the right way, supporting our most vulnerable residents. We have always maintained that prevention is better than cure; we want early intervention. and to help these people as best we can. Of course, these things are not enough, but we are traveling in the right direction.

“The government is now going backwards. Instead of adopting policies from their own government-commissioned Hewitt review, which would look at early stage prevention, they are thinking of creating stigma through a voucher scheme, thinking of medical notes from DWP staff. rather than from NHS doctors and thinking about money instead of people.”

He added: “Not only will this target alienate the most vulnerable of us, but the Office for Budget Responsibility (sic) own estimates say it will only put 15,000 people back into work. Frankly, it’s not just the wrong approach, it’s a waste. of money.”

Cllr Thalia Marrington (Lib Dem, Mousehole, Newlyn and St Buryan), who seconded the motion, added: “It can sometimes be easier to blame, whether it’s immigrants, single mothers, the culture of sickness – it can be a cheap, easy. we’re winning, but it’s not helping us solve the real problems.”

Cllr Pete Mitchell (Lib Dem, St Agnes) spoke of his own battle with depression. He quoted the council’s former cabinet member for health and former mental health nurse, Robert Rotchell, who said: “Because you can’t see depression, sufferers are seen as an easy target to label as work shy “.

He also quoted Paul Reeve, CEO of Cornwall MIND, who said: “The proposed initiative appears to be a direct tool aimed at the most vulnerable in society. Rishi Sunak plans to strip GPs of the power to take these people out of work. It’s bad. -designed and may prove to be dangerous to people who are already at risk.”

Conservative cabinet member Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek highlighted the “huge amount” the council did to support more vulnerable members of Cornish society and help people into work, adding: “We should understand and celebrate what is happening before we let’s start playing with what happens. wrong. We have a very good record here in Cornwall.

Cllr Virr, head of the Cabinet for Health and Social Care, proposed an amendment given the “importance, scale and complexity of this motion” and recommended it be referred to Cabinet for consideration and allow its members to take any appropriate action. Cllr Frost said he was not happy with this and that the decision should be made by all councillors.

Cllr Ellenbroek argued that Cabinet work could be more productive than the letters suggested in the motion. Cllr Mitchell was concerned that the Cabinet – made up entirely of Tory members – could decide not to agree to the motion and back the Government’s green paper “which doesn’t sound like democracy to me”.

The council voted in favor of the amendment, with some councilors vocally unhappy that it would go to Cabinet. “If this gets thrown into the long grass I will be absolutely furious as this is not about party politics,” added Cllr Frost. “The council is doing a great job but the Government is changing direction and it is the antithesis of the direction this council fought for. I think it’s shameful that this board as a whole has lost its right to stand up for the people it represents. There are so many people in this Duchy who are struggling.”

The amended motion was then amended again following debate to ensure that Cabinet work with Cllrs Frost and Marrington when it comes to pursuing the matter.