USERS of care services in Bradford were given the chance to have their say at a seminar in the city.

The Bradford Cares consortium, made up of district charities and welfare groups, held its third seminar yesterday.

The event, at the Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham, explored how home care users have been affected by social care cuts implemented by Bradford Council earlier this year.

In April, the Council raised the threshold for when vulnerable people are entitled to help with tasks such as washing, eating and dressing in their own homes.

People with moderate needs no longer qualify for support, only those whose needs are classed as substantial or critical under a classification system called Fair Access to Care.

The raising of the threshold was expected to affect about 2,000 people across the district, with about 70 people expected to lose their care entirely.

But, by September, out of 1,300 people who had been reassessed only nine have had their carer packages removed.

Those who spoke at the seminar yesterday called for more cash for care services to be given to Bradford Council by central Government, assessment of carers to take place, easier access to transport for people and better integration for the NHS and social care services.

Representatives of Bradford & District Disabled People's Forum, Age UK, Bradford People First and Bradford People First were among the speakers.

Bradford Council officials also attended with feedback expected to be presented to them in a report.

The accessibility of Bradford Council's social care Access Point, the first port of call people have to the Council for support and information on adult social care services, was also criticised as residents struggled to get in touch.

Baroness Sal Brinton, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis herself and is the Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesman in the House of Lords, said she would report back to Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb on the feedback from Bradford residents.

She said: "Today has been a wonderful example of how service holders and users of services can see where it's working and where it needs to improve.

"It has been a really important feedback session. What we can't have is for people who need basic care falling through the net."

Jill Grant, 67, of the Bradford & District Disabled People's Forum, who is wheelchair bound, said: "It's just a maze at the moment.

"We need more information on getting care."

David Ward MP (Lib Dem, Bradford East), who also spoke at the seminar, said: "People are less than satisfied with the system at the moment.

"This session has looked at the impact of the care bill and the changes the Council made in April this year. The Council is responding to the feedback positively and we welcome that."