Northumberland day centre anger set to hit public meetings

Jun 17 2009 by David Black, The Journal

ANGER over moves to close seven popular day centres for elderly and disabled people in Northumberland is set to be conveyed to council and care chiefs at a series of public meetings starting tonight.

County council and Northumberland Care Trust officials will face up to elderly users of the centres, their relatives, members of the public and local councillors at the seven formal consultation meetings, beginning in Prudhoe. They are likely to face strong criticism over the proposals to close the centres, which are used by 370 elderly and vulnerable people a week and give relatives a vital break from caring for them round the clock.

There has been widespread anger from centre users, their relatives, staff unions and local councillors since The Journal revealed the closure plans.

Fears have been voiced the axing the centres – in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Hexham and Haltwhistle – will rob elderly users of regular get-togethers with friends of their own age and leave some stuck in their homes.

Care chiefs are consulting on introducing a new system that involves giving older people ‘personal budgets’ which they can spend on getting out of the house and taking part in social activities of their choice.

The plan involves closing the seven traditional day centres, where people of pensionable age are taken by minibus to spend time with people of their own age, have lunch and take part in group activities.