CUTS to care services could leave Exeter's vulnerable and elderly without hot dinners after a leading meals-on-wheels service provider announced it was to pull out of the county.
And Age UK Exeter has expressed its concern about the affect on vulnerable people.
Exeter-based Apetito will stop providing the service on Friday, September 12, and staff have been made redundant.
It said the decision to withdraw its services has been made after cuts to funding from Devon County Council meant it was no longer viable. Currently it provides daily hot meals to hundreds of elderly residents across the county, but will end the service at the end of this week.
Martyn Rogers, director of Age UK Exeter, said: "Around 400 of the most vulnerable older people in Devon will be affected by this change as only those who cannot manage to reheat a frozen meal receive the hot meals service.
"However, we are particularly concerned about those people who are buying their hot meals privately and may not know what to do when the service ceases.
"In response to Apetito's withdrawal from the county, Devon social services is committed to support the two-thirds of people who have a contracted hot meal.
"Ironically though, this is likely to cost the council more than the original subsidy as a worker will now have to be sent to those affected to reheat frozen meals for them."
He added: "The big problem is that social services will be unaware of those people who currently rely on a hot meal being delivered but are buying it privately, often because they don't meet the council's financial criteria.
"It's those people who may be left with nothing and who should contact us on 01392 202092 if they're worried."
The council said cuts in central government funding, reduced user numbers and rising costs meant it could no longer afford to fund the service.
Apetito chief executive Paul Freeston said: "We have served the community in Devon for eight years and have worked hard to maintain our provision despite the cuts through a private hot meal initiative.
"However, due to reduced numbers and increased operational costs, it is with deep regret that we have had to acknowledge that this service is no longer financially viable."
He added: "It is our absolute priority to give our employees the utmost support and consideration over this period and we are working hard to support the staff that will be affected."
One Apetito staff member, who asked not to be named, said: "This has caused a lot of upset. We deal with people face-to-face as delivery drivers and can check they are okay. We see them everyday, and sometimes it's their only contact with anyone.
"A lot of elderly people are upset and a lot haven't understood what is happening. I don't know what will happen to them – this is hitting the most vulnerable people."
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "In light of Apetito's business decision to stop providing hot meals in Devon, we are contacting people who use the service to see whether they need help in finding alternative providers for their hot meals."
