Pensioners could be 'priced out' by Hampshire meals on wheels price hike

PENSIONERS paying for Hampshire's meals on wheels service will soon be forking out more money for their food.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Hampshire County Council has confirmed a lunchtime meal price rise of 34p, taking the cost of a hot meal up to £5.67 on April 1.

If a person receives seven meals a week from the council, this equates to an extra £2.38 each week, or £123.76 per year - leading some to believe that pensioners might be ‘priced out’ of the service.

Read More
Graffiti taggers and fly-tippers warned as Portsmouth set for more secret camera...
Annual price rises have become a regular occurance in recent years. Picture: PA Archive/PA ImagesAnnual price rises have become a regular occurance in recent years. Picture: PA Archive/PA Images
Annual price rises have become a regular occurance in recent years. Picture: PA Archive/PA Images
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To qualify for meals on wheels, residents must be over 55 and have either dementia, a learning or physical disability, mental health issues or a history of substance abuse.

Opposing Liberal Democrat spokesman for health and social care, Cllr David Harrison, said: ‘There are two things that appear to be driving this price increase - the cost of food is going up and the distribution to Hampshire residents is getting more expensive due to the price of fuel.

‘Therefore I do fully understand the why the cost is rising, but it's still a very unfortunate situation for the people who rely on this service for hot meals every day. They are often the ones struggling the most, too.

‘I would hope people don't get priced out but the county council will have to look at how this will affect people. If elderly residents stop getting the nutrition they need because they can't afford it, they could get seriously ill and that will put extra pressure on the social care sector.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Harrison added that annual price rises aren't uncommon for the service, but that the county council must ‘get the balance right’.

The council’s director of adult’s health and care, Graham Allen, is the one who approved the price rise.

Since 2018, price increases for the meals on wheels service have been capped at no more than 2.5 per cent of the contractor's price rise.

But in 2022-23, the county council's subsidy for this service will come to an end.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meals are provided by Apetito 365 days a year, between 11.15am and 2.15pm each day.

There are separate providers for Portsmouth and Southampton.

Conservative executive member for adult services and public health, Cllr Liz Fairhurst, was approached for comment.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Subscribe here for unlimited access to all our coverage, including Pompey, for just 26p a day.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.