Adele’s minibus anguish

LIFELINE . . . Adele using the specialist mini-bus which is axed tomorrow

Transport axe fuels isolation fears

A SEVERELY disabled woman is in danger of becoming housebound when a vital transport service is axed tomorrow.

Adele Melia relies on the council-run Integrated Transport Unit to take her from her home in Harry Street, Royton to a day care centre in Chadderton four times a week.

The 33-year-old, who is blind and can’t talk or walk, paid £20 a week for the return journeys.

It gave her mother, Lynn Hilditch (57) a precious few hours each week away from the constant demands of her daughter, who was born with part of her brain missing.

It meant she could run errands knowing Adele was in safe hands and spend time with her own mother, who she also cares for.

But the service will end tomorrow to save cash-strapped Oldham Council £500,000.

Mrs Hilditch fears her daughter will no longer be able to get out.

She has been told Adele can use her personalised care budget to pay for the Ring and Ride service — or even a taxi — but the nature of her severe disability means she can’t travel unaided.

Adele also suffers from fits and was not allowed on the Integrated Transport Unit’s minibus without an escort for safety reasons.

A social worker travelled with Adele on her day care trips. Her mother also praised the driver for the invaluable help he gave to her daughter.

But it is Mrs Hilditch who has been told to attend meetings — all at a time when her daughter has returned home from day care — to try and find a solution.

“I can’t leave Adele on her own. They told me to get someone in to look after her but it’s not that easy,” said Mrs Hilditch.

“Adele is an adult and they should sort out the transport problem with her, not expect me to do it.

“I fit my life around Adele, I do everything for her, I wash her, dress her and feed her.

“When she goes out of the door to day care that’s my bit of free time — I need it.

“If Adele can’t get to the meetings and speak for herself then they should come to her and assess her.

“I don’t think I’m being harsh. If Adele can’t get out and I have to stay in with her 24 hours a day I know I won’t be able to cope.

“She will end up in a home, then they will have to sort out her transport. I have tried to travel with her myself but I just can’t do it, she’s too heavy for me to lift in and out of vehicles. Within a week I’m shattered.

“I am being expected to organise a taxi for Adele. If she were able-bodied or could walk, speak or see it would be a different story.

“But she is so severely disabled she has really special needs. She can’t even communicate with me. I have to guess what she wants.”

Adele has been warned that if she fails to turn up for day care her place will be given to someone else.

Her mother said: “She likes going to day care, they take her out and she goes swimming, which helps her and is something I could never do on my own.”

No-one from Oldham Council was available for comment.

Veronica Jackson, Oldham Council’s executive director of people, communities and society said: “People who receive assistance with non statutory transport are currently being visited so that their needs can be reviewed.

“Non-statutory transport will no longer be provided from tomorrow, or when people have been assessed.

“Until a review has been completed and suitable transport alternatives identified, assistance with transport will continue.

“All forms of available and appropriate transport are being discussed, information provided and solutions investigated.”