COST cutting has seen a respite service axed and left carers worried.

Crossroads has had its contract withdrawn by Lewisham Council after a review ruled the Catford-based service was too expensive.

Now relatives fear poor quality agency staff will be used in their place — leading some to fear they may have to stop work if high-quality care is no longer available.

Crossroads provides 33,000 hours of care each year to ease the burden on relatives and friends caring for seriously-ill people.

The Wildfell Road charity has held a contract with the council for more than 15 years and is part of a national organisation with 200 branches.

But despite a proven track record and some of the lowest charges for respite services from a charity, during a re-tendering process earlier this year the council judged it did not meet its strict criteria and ruled Crossroads’ bid unsuccessful.

From July it will no longer provide respite relief to more than 250 Lewisham carers each year, although it retains its contracts in Greenwich.

Christine Rich, 56, cares for her husband Terry, 56, who is bed-bound with multiple sclerosis and currently has eight hours of respite support each week.

The Pelinore Road resident said: “We have the same carer every week and I know they’re good enough to look after Terry while I get some shopping or go to work.

“Agency staff tend not to be so well trained or committed.

“I’m annoyed the council didn’t even ask us what we thought about the service.” Crossroads director Jenny Ochera said consultation with service users is good practice.

She added: “We’d like to go on providing this service because we know the users are happy with us.

“Crossroads provides added value and our carers are trained to form relationships with people by engaging with them.

“We’re still trying to negotiate. We know Lewisham Council is reasonable and want it to change its mind.” A council spokesman said the re-tendering process was extensive and transparent and consulted with the Lewisham Pensioners’ Forum.

He added: “The council will continue to use Crossroads to provide other services under different contracts.

“We are working with Crossroads to provide a seamless service during this transitional period, minimising the impact the transfer may have on service users.” The council would not release the name of the new service provider, saying it is still in negotiations and details are commercially sensitive.