Residents in Canvey who use a council-run emergency careline fear that help will not reach them in time after it was announced that the service is to be taken on by neighbouring Southend Council.

The service run by Castle Point Council, will be discontinued by local officers when it's contract runs out in July because it has been found not to be cost effective.

Council chiefs have decided not to renew the careline after a Best Value Review showed it was losing them money.

The service, which provides 24-hour local help for residents, will now be handed over to Southend Council, which already has the facilities to cover people living in Castle Point.

Richard Chew, the borough's assistant director of housing, said: "We had a small customer base and didn't have enough to cover the service's overheads. It shouldn't be too much of a problem because we have worked round any worries we had."

However Canvey resident, Dylis Dawson, 63, says many people rely on the service to be quick and efficient, something she fears will be lost by the move.

She suffers from obstructive airways and often needs medical help with no time to call for an ambulance. The service helps her because it has installed a buzzer in her home which she can press to get medical attention.

She said: "The service has saved my life. I need instant care and if the service moves to Southend it will take more time."

However Mr Chew wants to reassure residents that their service will not change and said all it meant was that someone else would be answering the phones.

Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo