Nottinghamshire action group fights to keep respite centre open

Campaigners in Nottinghamshire are urging the county council not to close what they say is a vital respite care centre for adults with learning difficulties.

Kingsbridge Way Short Break Service in Chilwell provides care for up to 70 people and is due to close in September 2015 owing to budget cuts.

But now, campaigners have written to the council and started a petition, which already has more than 1,000 signatures, and are urging people to get behind the cause.

Leading the campaign, Amanda Giles, the chair of Kingsbridge Way Action Group says: “Closing Kingsbridge Way is a political decision made by people who have no idea what a struggle both vulnerable adults and their parents face each day. “Transition is something all these adults have huge problems with. To move to another place will place additional massive strains on us all. We will not be able to cope with the anxiety and stress that this will cause.”

Mrs Giles’ son Luke, 23, was born with a heart condition that means he could suffer heart failure at any moment. He also has severe learning difficulties and has been using the Kingsbridge Way service since he was 19.

She says: “We’ve all got disabled children - we’ve all been dealt the heavy blow of not having a healthy child. They can have challenging behaviour and need a lot more support than other people.

“Luke needs help getting dressed and fed and you couldn’t leave him alone in the house. He likes his routine and does not like anything changing. It's taken a long time for him to get settled so he feels OK if he’s going there in the morning. He happily goes off to a place where it’s like seeing a relative.

“Obviously there have got to be budget cuts because the council hasn’t been given enough money. But they’re picking on the vulnerable. We won’t just lie down and accept it.”

Mrs Giles has been told that Luke would have to use a service in Bingham, if the centre were to close. She says: “It’s miles away - it’s not a local environment and that’s what we need. It does not take weeks or months to get used to the place, it takes years. Some of these people have very short life expectancy. It’s heartbreaking.”

Kingsbridge Way was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in May 2014 and passed with flying colours - meeting all of the standards required.

Councillor Muriel Weisz, chair of the county council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee, said in a recent interview with the Nottingham Post: “I understand the concerns about the closure of the Kingsbridge Way Short Breaks unit raised by families of service users.

“We are committed to finding suitable alternatives for all the people who are affected by this closure.

“Unfortunately, we are forced to make difficult decisions due to the significant cuts to our budget imposed by central Government – we would not be closing the unit at this time if we were not facing such a huge financial challenge.”

Councillor Weisz confirmed the council would be looking to see whether they could offer more support to the families affected.