Care workers to demonstrate against Island dementia service closure

Care workers and GMB union members delivering vital dementia care across the Isle of Bute will this morning demonstrate against a decision by Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to close a day service centre.

The GMB say the plans will result in several jobs loses at the Thomson Court Centre in Rothesay which provides support for up to sixty service users through respite at the centre and home visits.

The union understands the HSCP plan to fill the void left by the closure with befriender visits that will see dementia sufferers receive their care at home only but have yet to fully inform service users and their families of the proposals.

HSCP locality and project managers have told staff the cuts will be subject to a six month consultation but a timeframe for the start of this process has yet to be determined.

Brian Johnstone, GMB Scotland Organiser, said: “There has been no meaningful consultation and engagement from the HSCP with the workers, the service users and with the wider community and that’s totally unacceptable.   

“These cuts may seem negligible but our members make a significant contribution every day to the quality of life for some of the most vulnerable people in the local community.

“We want to highlight the short-sighted nature of this decision but we also want to ensure the best welfare standards possible for the local service users and their families – that won’t happen if the service user is increasingly isolated at home.

“It’s a stark reminder once again in this time of austerity and political uncertainty that the real challenges in our local communities haven’t gone away and we are urging the HSCP to think again about the impact of these cuts and to preserve these vital jobs.”

The demonstration will take place at care home from 11.30am this morning.