The number of pensioners receiving meals on wheels from their local council has halved in the past five years, according to new figures.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by shadow care minister, Liz Kendall show that the number of elderly people receiving local authority-funded meals has fallen from 296,000 in 2009/10 to around 109,000.
Ms Kendall said: ‘Removing this support isn’t good for them and it’s a false economy too if their health suffers and they struggle to cope and they end up having to go into hospital or a care home.’
Local government minister Kris Hopkins said: ‘Councils should be providing meals on wheels to those who need it as they are responsible for protecting frontline services.
‘There is far more scope for savings across the public sector by merging back offices, more joint working, cutting fraud, and embracing transparency to drive out waste and inefficiency.’
