Meals on wheels cash ban

Meals on Wheels drivers could be banned from taking cash from their elderly and vulnerable customers after thousands of pounds of cash went missing, it has been revealed.

A damning report into the service by Walsall Council discovered one agency driver is being investigated for a "potential theft" of £987 while another £1,139 had to be repaid by another driver. Auditors uncovered the issue.

They found poor handling of thousands of pounds paid by hundreds of vulnerable pensioners across the borough who rely on the service for a healthy meal, delivered to their doors.

Now auditors want all drivers to be banned from handling cash for good but an alternative payment method has yet to be suggested.

A report presented to the council states: "The meals on wheels service is required to collect a great deal of income from vulnerable clients.

Over recent weeks there have been three instances of weaknesses within cash handling, including a potential theft of £987 by an agency driver and the misappropriation of £1,139 cash by another driver but subsequently repaid.

"Management should consider implementing a system whereby drivers would not be responsible for collecting cash from clients."

Freshly cooked meals are delivered to around 750 frail, ill or impaired people across Walsall seven days a week.

Social services refer customers for the service and every customer is given a menu, by the driver, before they pat for their choice.

The report was part of a widespread investigation into the council's financial management. Health and social services cabinet member Councillor Alan Paul said he was aware of the problems and warned changes could cause pensioners' problems.

By Lee Perry

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