Plans to slash vital care service scrapped?
HEALTH care chiefs have told a watchdog that plans to slash a vital care service for adults with mental health issues and learning difficulties have been scrapped. But carers still feel duped.
Norfolk Learning Difficulties Service told the county's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday it has decided only a management change was needed at Lynn's Park View Centre – after months of anguish.
Parent-carer Josette Simpson (67), who battled for the scrutiny committee to look into the proposals, said: "From the parents' point of view the damage has already been done."
Mrs Simpson, of Castle Acre, Great Massingham, is supported by the centre in the care of her 49-year-old daughter, who has Down's Syndrome and dementia and is still determined to make providers face her in court at a judicial review to explain the decisions that have been made.
Parents have long feared proposed financial cuts and a change of management of the team from health to social services will mean the loss of specialist nursing staff, but have not been consulted, despite a direction in September for communication.
A report to the scrutiny committee from on-the-ground staff at the centre listed a raft of changes that have already taken place, including the closure of in-patient psychiatric beds and effective loss of eight-and-a-half full-time staff.
It also told of redundancy notices being served to staff and then rescinded three months later and said the impact of it all had led to relapses in some severely-ill individuals, complex psychiatric care now being given by non-clinical staff and the loss of clinical leadership.
Another parent Maria Purse (61), of Terrington St John, whose daughter has autism and bi-polar disorder, said: "There remains a deep feeling of mistrust due to the way the proposed changes were initially handled. From the outset there was a complete lack of consultation and even when parents and carers made their concerns known we were treated with total disregard by the Primary Care Trust and Norfolk Learning Difficulties Service."
Parents said concerns were fuelled by news that Lynn's Birch Tree Close residential units for people with learning disabilities are to be closed down, along with Great Mans Way, Stoke Ferry.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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