Day care cuts are criticised

10:23am Thursday 8th November 2007

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A PROPOSAL to close five day centres in Dorset has been met with staunch opposition.

South Dorset MP Jim Knight is to write to Dorset County Council to urge a rethink over its bid to save £600,000 by cutting the service for elderly people and those with learning disabilities.

Mr Knight said: "We know the council is spending loads of money on consultants for various things. It needs to work out what its priorities are."

He said day centre closures would force residents in isolated areas to abandon visits because of the long distance to other locations.

"Some of the most vulnerable people in our community use day centres and I don't think the council should even be considering closures in these sort of places," he said.

Wendy Hilton, chief officer of Dorchester Age Concern, said the charity had already received phonecalls from worried residents.

She said the voluntary sector had been feeling the strain since the number of people eligible for care services was cut by the council earlier this year.

"Work here has grown and grown and our staff are working much longer hours that they are not being paid for," she said.

"I can understand the council's dilemma but on the other hand this is a real worry for old people and their carers.

"Day care is a real lifeline and is important for social interaction. It could be a real burden getting elsewhere for people who are frail."

Dorset has one of the highest percentages of elderly people in the country. More than 27 per cent of people here are of retirement age.

"We don't have the funding to meet the needs of all the old people that are no longer eligible for other services," Mrs Hilton added.

"But we don't believe in turning old people away and will do our utmost to help them as much as we can. The most important thing is that people who need day care are receiving it."