Politicians join critics as Meals on Wheels video goes viral

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//= do_shortcode(‘[in-content-square]’) ?> A screenshot of the video via YouTube

Rhiannon James, Local Democracy Journalist

Politicians have slammed the treatment of an elderly lady by a Meals on Wheels worker after a video was posted on Facebook showing she was refused a drink.

Described on the Caerphilly County Borough Councils website as a friendly team, the Meals on Wheels service has received significant backlash due to a viral video.

In response to the incident, Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, asked the council to provide Llanbradach resident Jane McTighe with a comprehensive care package.

In the video, the Meals on Wheels worker can be heard complaining to her supervisor after being asked for coffee for Ms McTighe.

She says: I’m not supposed to do all this, am I?

Her supervisor responds: Well, no, unless she gives you f*****g 50 for Christmas.

Mr David said: I thought the action was deplorable and wrote to the chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council saying I was extremely concerned that there was no program comprehensive care in place for the elderly lady.

This is clearly not the standard of care the board should be providing.

According to Caerphilly Observer, Ms McTighe previously had up to four caretaker visits a day, before the council’s social services department carried out an assessment and reduced it to two and then a single Meals on Wheels visit.

Mr. David added: What was objectionable was the language used by the supervisor. No one should use these terms while on the job, there was a lack of professionalism displayed.

Unacceptable

The council’s chief executive, Ms Harrhy, called the behavior completely unacceptable and apologized to Ms McTighe for the distress caused.

Llanbradach Councilor Colin Mann said: This is obviously well below the standard of services we expect. It’s a bit sad that people who are supposed to take care of others act like this.

I don’t know all the circumstances, I’d like to think this is an exception. I believe the vast majority of people doing the work are doing a good job, due to the feedback we normally receive. But, even one case like this is one too many.

Following the incident, the council emphasized the difference between a social services carer and a meals-on-wheels worker.

A spokesperson for the council said: It is important to differentiate the role and responsibilities of Meals Direct staff from those of social services staff.

Meals Direct’s mandate is only to provide a hot two course meal Monday to Friday, the service has no mandate to cover aspects of care.

The council’s social care team are responsible for agreeing appropriate care packages for vulnerable residents and have dedicated social care staff who provide this within the community.

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