Former worker hits out at Cheshire day centre closure plans

CONTROVERSIAL plans to close Cheshire’s day centres for the elderly have been put under scrutiny by a former Age Concern employee.

The charity announced in March it would be closing all 19 of the day centres in Cheshire, where pensioners meet weekly to socialise and enjoy a meal with friends.

But Gill Clough, who worked for the charity Age Concern (now Age UK) for 10 years until she resigned in March, has openly criticised the decision, pointing out a number of errors in figures released by the charity.

In a letter sent to Cheshire East’s health and adult social care scrutiny committee – who met last Thursday, July 1 – the former care service manager said that the number of clients who benefited from the charity’s funds stood at 687, not 74, a figure put forward by the charity.

She also said that the number of day care clients with critical or substantial needs was more than just the 20 as suggested in an agenda document at the meeting.

Her letter states: “In the work undertaken by Age Concern Cheshire in January 2010, it was reported that 48 per cent (42 people out of 88 on the books) had these levels of care needs.”

During the meeting, it was announced the proposed closures of the day centres in the Cheshire East will be postponed until April 2011.

However, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), responsible for care for the elderly in Northwich, revealed the expansion of the charity’s ‘Supporting You’ service – concentrating on one-to-one based care – will be delayed and day care will continue until January 2011.

Brenda Dowding, executive member for adult and health services for CWAC, said: “As far as day care is concerned we have responded to Age UKs desire to change their services but what came back from the consultation is that people wanted the more traditional day care centres to continue – especially in the rural areas.

“We are meeting with communities now so we can find ways to enable them to continue. We don’t want our day centres to cease.

“We don’t know if any funding will be available, it is different for each community but we will be looking at ways we can get the community to facilitate the centres. “Older people don’t want to be no longer part of the community so if we can get communities together to facilitate them then it would be ideal.”