I WRITE again following on from my letter headed "Vulnerable people are being forgotten" (Dec 1). I am not surprised the council has not replied to my expressions of disgust at the way some disabled people are being treated and the possibility of the departed chief officer of social services not being replaced.

It now appears that the council are about to introduce a charging policy for equipment which is supplied to disabled people, or people who need equipment on a short-term basis. This would include such things as commodes, bath seats and numerous other items which cost the council (at discounted prices) more than £20.

So a person who, for example, goes into hospital for a hip replacement and then needs the short-term use of a commode (between £25 and £30 to buy from the suppliers) will finish up having to buy their own, because of this £20 the council is imposing. Can you imagine the confusion, this is going to cause the disabled person and their families who are going to have to make arrangements for these items to be purchased before going home from hospital?

Who is going to tell them what equipment they need? Where do people go to purchase these items? On health and safety grounds, who is going to fit this equipment? And what about people who live alone, or cannot afford to pay the £20 per item?

Fifteen per cent of the population has some form of disability, so this charging policy will hit most families at some time or other. Disability can be very traumatic as people try to come to terms with it and it certainly doesn't help matters when the council decides to do this kind of thing.

Nobody is saying that there shouldn't be a charge for equipment but surely there is an easier and more caring way. Whoever came up with this policy can have no understanding of disability or the trauma it can cause. I am very surprised at the social services committee accepting this measure and I am sure that if they had had a director of social services this idea would never have been implemented. And I am sure the people of Bury will remember it when it comes to voting day.

I am not sure if all local voluntary groups know about this issue, but I would hope they will voice their opinions to the council.

A VERY CONCERNED

VOLUNTARY WORKER