Rustington woman to address conference on care concerns

Jackie Postance, 49, has been selected to speak at the Liberal-Democrat party’s autumn conference, as part of a scheme run by Leonard Cheshire Disability.

She will be raising her concerns about welfare and social care and discussing how these can be reformed, at the conference, next month.

Spina bifida sufferer Jackie, who has been a resident at Leonard Cheshire Disability’s St Bridget’s home, in Ilex Close, said: “There are two key issues I would like to bring up with politicians.

“Firstly, I want to discuss with them the impact that the new personal independence payment will have on disabled people, because far fewer people will be eligible for this important allowance.

“I also want to raise the urgent issue of reforming the social care system, which is in crisis. In particular, I want to see politicians taking action to put a stop to 15-minute home visits, which are far too short for carers to get anything done and deny people their dignity.”

Over the years, Jackie has been involved in campaigns to make transport and services accessible to disabled people, and played a part in a successful national campaign to persuade the Government to retain a vital part of disability living allowance for disabled people living in residential care.

Emma Lindsay, national campaigns manager at Leonard Cheshire Disability, helped provide the vital travel costs for Jackie to travel to the conference, in Glasgow, on September 14.

She said: “We hope that this will be a great opportunity for Jackie to attend the Liberal Democrat party conference and to raise the issues that are important to her with representatives from the party.

“Politics affects everyone; we hope that this is a small step towards making it more accessible to everyone too.”