SIR – Councillor Whiteley hasn’t a shred of evidence for her insinuation that a death resulted from changes to council policy on access to social care (Letters, October 15).

This irresponsible scaremongering is reminiscent of what we saw when Cllr Whiteley and others claimed the changes would mean thousands of people losing care. That was never going to be the case. Ironically, she now criticises the council for doing what it said it would and ensuring that very few people are directly affected. At the request of the Health & Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, social services are following up on those people to make sure that their needs haven’t altered.

People don’t “apply” for care so “applications” can’t be turned down as Cllr Whiteley claims. People present themselves or are referred and their needs are assessed. Sometimes they only need advice, sometimes they need practical help and there are many services provided by voluntary groups, lots of which receive council support.

The council had to make changes given the disproportionate cuts targeted at Bradford by the Tory-led Coalition and rising demand due to a growing older population. Social care funding is a national issue and in meeting critical and substantial needs, like 86% of authorities, Bradford is targeting resources on those vulnerable people who need them the most.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood, Windhill & Wrose (Labour)