Sheffield Council told to 'pull their finger out' and set up helpline for city's most vulnerable

Talks about setting up the helpline started over a week ago, yet no service has yet been put in place by the council.

Opposition councillors say many residents have contacted them saying they were "pushed from pilar to post" when trying to access help, and are now calling for the council to act immediately.

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "People across Sheffield expect the city council to look after its residents, particularly the vulnerable and elderly.

"At the moment there is no single point of contact where they can seek help.

"The council must pull its finger out and set up that single point of contact and advertise it widely across the city within the next 24 hours. It has taken long enough already."

He added the service was essential because councillors - many of whom are now housebound - were dealing with a high number of cases where people needed to be signposted to the right department.

He said he and Coun Penny Baker spoke to the council's chief executive last week, hoping a service like this would be put in place before a lockdown, which was enacted by the government on Monday.

In an email sent to Eugene Walker, executive director of resources at the council, Coun Baker said: "Usually councillors are quite capable of signposting constituents but we are trying not to put pressure on officers as you prepare for what is to come but we need to support our people."

Lord Paul Scriven, Liberal Democract peer, also supported the calls for a helpline, and Tweeted: “I’m becoming more angry at the lack of a helpline for the most vulnerable in the city been up and running.

"Too many stories of the council passing people between departments and not helping. Other councils have them.

“No excuses just get it up and running Sheffield City Council."

Sheffield Council have been contacted for comment.