Islignton Council are actively looking to drop NowMedical.
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Islington Council will cut ties with health firm NowMedical, City News understands.
The news was announced by Diarmaid Ward, Islington councilor and executive member for Housing and Development.
He explained that the council is ‘actively looking’ to drop NowMedical.
It’s alleged that the move comes from NowMedical failing to identify vulnerable members of society in need of accommodation.
Ward made the announcement after Islington Law Centre raised concerns for the company’s assessment of homeless people.
Refugee wasn’t ‘vulnerable’
Islington council used NowMedical to prioritise housing applicants on the grounds of poor health.
An Iranian refugee who suffered from PTSD wasn’t a “vulnerable” applicant for accommodation, according to the council, which was advised by NowMedical.
The decision was overturned by a judge 12 months ago.
An applicant for housing is considered to be in priority need if he or she is deemed “vulnerable” through a mental illness, learning disability or physical disability.
Housing officers sent applications to NowMedical, which will advise the council on whether the applicant is in priority need.
But councilor Sue Lukes, vice-chairwoman of the Housing Scrutiny Committee, says too many vulnerable people are being denied support.
“Local authorities are desperate”
Speaking to City News, Lukes said the issues with NowMedical is just one example of the problems with outsourcing.
“Local authorities are desperate, they’re having to ration resources in impossible ways and make very, very difficult decisions.
“Sometimes it feels like its a good idea to take a shortcut.
“It’s my view as a councillor that we shouldn´t. In the end, if we have to make difficult decisions we should be doing it ourselves and shouldn’t be relying on someone one hundred miles away to do it for a profit”.
Cllr Sue Lukes said she would like to scrutinise the council’s use of NowMedical in future meetings.
NowMedical advises more than 150 local authorities, housing associations, and organisations across the UK.
City News approached NowMedical for comment, however, they have not responded.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineIslington Council to sever ties with NowMedical over homeless care failures
Short HeadlineIslington Council to drop NowMedical
StandfirstOutsourced health firm has led council to make decisions "no reasonable authority should come to".
Islington Council will cut ties with health firm NowMedical, City News understands.
The news was announced by Diarmaid Ward, Islington councilor and executive member for Housing and Development.
He explained that the council is ‘actively looking’ to drop NowMedical.
It’s alleged that the move comes from NowMedical failing to identify vulnerable members of society in need of accommodation.
Ward made the announcement after Islington Law Centre raised concerns for the company’s assessment of homeless people.
Refugee wasn’t ‘vulnerable’
Islington council used NowMedical to prioritise housing applicants on the grounds of poor health.
An Iranian refugee who suffered from PTSD wasn’t a “vulnerable” applicant for accommodation, according to the council, which was advised by NowMedical.
The decision was overturned by a judge 12 months ago.
An applicant for housing is considered to be in priority need if he or she is deemed “vulnerable” through a mental illness, learning disability or physical disability.
Housing officers sent applications to NowMedical, which will advise the council on whether the applicant is in priority need.
But councilor Sue Lukes, vice-chairwoman of the Housing Scrutiny Committee, says too many vulnerable people are being denied support.
“Local authorities are desperate”
Speaking to City News, Lukes said the issues with NowMedical is just one example of the problems with outsourcing.
“Local authorities are desperate, they’re having to ration resources in impossible ways and make very, very difficult decisions.
“Sometimes it feels like its a good idea to take a shortcut.
“It’s my view as a councillor that we shouldn´t. In the end, if we have to make difficult decisions we should be doing it ourselves and shouldn’t be relying on someone one hundred miles away to do it for a profit”.
Cllr Sue Lukes said she would like to scrutinise the council’s use of NowMedical in future meetings.
NowMedical advises more than 150 local authorities, housing associations, and organisations across the UK.
City News approached NowMedical for comment, however, they have not responded.
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