We had a fantastic campaigning success when Government Minister, Baroness Thornton agreed to meet with Sense to discuss how the Personal Care at Home Bill will impact deafblind people.
Richard Brook, our Chief Executive, and Kari Gerstheimer, our Parliamentary Officer met with Baroness Thornton and the Department of Health on 9 March. The meeting was very positive and the Department of Health have committed to promoting the Deafblind Guidance across their work. Sense is now waiting to see if as a result of the meeting there will be any amendments made to the Bill, the Regulations, or the Guidance.
The Personal Care at Home Bill is currently being debated in the Lords in Parliament. The Bill specifies that those with the highest personal care needs will have these needs met free of charge.
During a debate in the Lords, Earl Howe voiced Sense’s concerns that the Bill discriminates against deafblind people because the definition of personal care will not cover communication and mobility support, so vital to deafblind people. In response, Baroness Thornton agreed to meet with us to discuss our concerns and also pledged that the Personal Care at Home Policy will dovetail with the Deafblind Guidance which protects the rights of deafblind people.
