Health centre's service cut

11:46am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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A FACILITY offered at Monmouth's new Monnow Vale health complex is to close next month.

The family of one adult patient - who cannot read, write or use a computer but benefits from the daily attendance of the Day Services facility - says that the move has been considered without any consultation with them.

Pat Skidmore's disabled 29-year-old daughter Helen has used the unit since it opened at Monnow Vale in 2005.

She said: "There has been absolutely no consolation over this closure at all. Helen's social worker knew nothing until we informed her after I had been told of the decision."

Monnow Vale was established as a flagship model for the integration of Health and Social Services catering for all the community's needs in one building. And the proposed closure of the day-facility would require patients to be transported to Abergavenny.

But on Monday an emergency meeting of People First in Monmouth was held. It was felt that people have the right to be cared for in their community.

Monmouth's mayor, Cllr Terry Christopher said: "It's apparent that the service users, their carers and their families feel that they have been given no choice and that the date for the move has had the effect of minimising the opportunity for them to resist the change.

"As well as the lack of public consultation, social workers have not been kept informed. And because they were not involved in the process, it seems that no assessments of client need in relation to this proposal have been carried out."

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council responded: "We are changing and improving services in order to focus on each individual's needs. A key aspect of this is developing a range of social enterprises in which people can develop skills and confidence in real work environments and, where appropriate, have the chance to progress onto work and volunteering opportunities.

"This means that those people who have a high level of need will get more specialised attention and those who need less support are able to take part in our social enterprises. Nobody will lose the current level of service they receive in terms of hours or quality of care."

The spokesman insisted: "We have spoken at length to individuals and their families about the changes."

But Mrs Skidmore concluded: "I shall fight on regardless for the benefit of my daughter. I haven't heard one single comment from the users of this facility to say that they felt it was a good move."