'˜Extreme caution' urged over plans for day care in Midhurst

Speaking at a town council meeting one of the Save Our Day Care campaign leaders Margaret Guest said the proposed model of day care from West Sussex County Council (WSCC) was untested, particularly in rural areas, unfunded and had already been rejected by the local community.

There was spontaneous applause for Mrs Guest. who urged town councillors to back the campaign’s call for the retention of a building based day-care centre in Midhurst for all those in the Midhurst and Petworth area who needed it.

And members decided to write to WSCC rejecting the withdrawal of day care services currently available and registering their support for keeping a building based centre.

“There is no other centre between Chichester and Horsham and we are very concerned that the removal of the day-care centre from the Grange means current users and carers will be denied the service they should have,” said Mrs Guest

She told the meeting she was ‘well acquainted’ with how West Sussex conducted its business.

She spent 36 years working in social care both in the public and voluntary sector – 30 of them with WSCC – most notably as a senior manager responsible for strategy and policy development for WSCC in adult services for the past five years.

She thanked town councillors for their support of the day care campaign.

She also thanked them for taking a lead in co-ordinating a group to look at possible solutions and day-service provision following the outcry over WSCC’s decision to axe the Grange day-care centre.

“However, I would point out this group is looking at alternative services for people with low level needs and those with personal budgets who are prepared to buy services elsewhere – they are not looking for a day-care centre.

“Although there are real concerns about the additional resources required to develop such alternative services and the capacity of the voluntary sector and the willingness of WSCC to give resources we are encouraged there is now a forum where these matters can be discussed.”

But she said campaigners were also concerned for those with moderate or high level needs currently using the Grange day care centre.

WSCC proposed these people would go to Rotherlea in Petworth run by an independent care provider Shaw Health Care with whom WSCC had a 30 year contract and paid for places whether or not they were filled.

“The Campaign believes this is unacceptable to Midhurst and Petworth people and those in the surrounding parishes as the only provision for those with moderate and high level needs. It takes people out of their local community and away from long term friendship groups. It is further to travel and more time spent in less than comfortable buses for people with significant disabilities.”

Mrs Guest said Rotherlea specialised in dementia, not respiratory conditions, heart, neurological or mental health illnesses currently provided for at the Grange.