A CARER who dedicates his life to looking after his seriously ill wife has criticised variations in levels of support provided in different parts of London.

Leslie Gilbert, 84, of Dellwood Gardens in Clayhall, provides round the clock care for his disabled wife, Frances, 78, who has leukaemia and an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis.

He currently receives just four hours free respite care a week from Redbridge Council due to the level of the couple's savings.

But Mr Gilbert fears the money could run out and is frustrated that he would receive greater support if he lived in nearby Barking and Dagenham.

He said: "Assuming that we are both going to live for another few years yet, we have to conserve what savings we have. There is a limit to what we can afford to spend.

"Frances had a spell in a care home while I was in hospital last year, she hated it so much that I swore blind that she would not go in a care home in my life time."

Barking and Dagenham have a lower threshold for residents considered to have "substantial needs", meaning the Gilberts could benefit from a more generous care package if they lived across the border.

The inconsistencies across the country are believed to have been caused as councils face an estimated £1billion reduction in government funding for social care.

The couple currently pay for 18 hours a week of care at a cost of £11.95 per hour.

This allows Mr Gilbert to do the weekly chores, but he said the quality of life for the couple would greatly improve with greater support.

"If we had moved to Barking then our lives could have been different. It is grossly unfair," he added.

A Redbridge Council spokeswoman said: "The amount of savings that someone has should not affect their needs and therefore the package of care that they receive from the council.

"However, it does affect the amount that they contribute towards their care.

"We regularly review the care of the individuals who require services, to make sure that the services provided meet their needs. We also have an extensive system of quality checking whereby individuals are visited in their own homes, and asked about the quality of the care they receive.".

Click here to follow the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian on Twitter

Click here to follow the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian on Facebook