Wirral Council to write off £2million of debts

May 25 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A report to be presented to the council’s cabinet on Thursday said: “These individuals had received services, in line with their care needs, for which the council had paid various providers.

“There were 27 individuals in total, 21 of whom were in Wirral based services. The remaining home were in placements outside Wirral; and it is these cases that were in dispute.”

The council had agreed with PCTs in Wirral to jointly fund care for people who had a combination of “health and social care needs”.

The same report also recommends a further £189,000 also be written off.

According to Mr Webb’s report: “Invoices have been raised on NHS Wirral inappropriately in respect of three individuals.”

Mr Webb said new procedures would avoid the same problem recurring.

“Essentially, where care or support are to be jointly funded, written agreements will be required in advance.”