Calls for Weymouth Ironman access after carers blocked

Ahead of the prestigious triathlon returning to the town next weekend organisers are being urged to ensure access is cleared for essential workers.

The event includes a 56-mile cycle race and it means that many roads have to close to allow competitors to pas safely. The route includes parts of Preston in Weymouth, Dorchester and surrounding villages and up towards Sherborne.

During last year's event, several domiciliary care patients were unable to receive care in areas affected by the cycle route of the race- despite carers being reassured they would be allowed through.

Rowan Jackson, who runs the Better Care at Home care agency, said that his staff were ‘simply turned away’ by marshals on the day.

He said that two clients on Preston Road, Weymouth, did not receive the care they were expecting, while a further two in Crossways, one of whom is quadriplegic, received pain relief two hours late.

Rowan Jackson of the Better Care at Home agency (Image: Rowan Jackson) Another client in Dorchester also received their care late as ‘there were no viable routes’ and those available were ‘convoluted and gridlocked’.

Writing a letter to organisers, Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council, Mr Jackson asked for reassurances before this year’s Ironman on Sunday, September 15.

Mr Jackson said: “My team of essential carers require access to various locations in Crossways and Dorchester in order to care for sick and vulnerable elderly clients.

“We will also need to travel between Dorchester and Crossways several times during the event. Our Weymouth office has similar commitments including four essential time critical visits to a client who lives near the midpoint of Preston Road.

“The clients we visit require essential care including medication, hoisting for pressure relief, nutrition, hydration, toileting and end of life care. We do not have the luxury of not attending or changing our visit times and we are contracted by Dorset Council to provide these services."

The cycling leg of the Ironman race (Image: Graham Hunt Photography) Mr Jackson said despite submitting visiting times and routings over several years to the organisers and being given promises that staff will be given access, no provisions had been made.

He said: “Last year we were met - once again, with a wall of silence from unbriefed, intransigent marshals and our staff were unable to complete their visits. We're happy to work around the organisers but it's been frustrating."

Organisers say they have hired a new stewarding company that has been brought in following great work at the Ironman in Swansea.

Last year's Ironman race (Image: Graham Hunt Photography) A spokesperson for the Ironman said: “Stewards are given comprehensive briefing sheets that are personalised to their position on the course, if a carer access has been granted access from their location prior to the event that information will be included in detail. We will also have a strong presence of Dorset Council staff aiding with the securing the road closures.

“We understand that there may be some scenarios which aren’t planned and happen on race day, so we ensure that all stewards are able to either radio or call directly in to our experienced team in race control for further co-ordination.

“From race control we can agree on the appropriate course of action, that enables the carer to get where they need to be, while also taking into account the current flow of the race.”

Explaining the process of how carers organisers handle carers this year, a spokesperson for the event, said: “Ironman has been working with carers in the local area to ensure that they have advance notice of the road closures, and can access their locations in the fastest and safest way possible.

“Carers who have any specific concerns or require any special access to any properties affected by the road closures have been encouraged to call or email IRONMAN with further details about their care visits. IRONMAN then deals with each scenario on a case-by-case basis to ensure individual needs are being met.

They added that the communication process to carers started eight weeks before the event, and that they request all individual concerns to be raised before Friday, September 13 to ensure they can be dealt with. 

A spokesperson for Dorset Council, said: “The event organisers have said that essential access for carers will be facilitated by displaying permits provided by IRONMAN, and there will be no restrictions to any emergency services during the race.

“If anyone has any concerns about road access during the event, we encourage them to call 03330 116600 or e-mail weymouth@ironmanroadaccess.com as soon as possible.”