Under-threat day centres for elderly to stay open
BBCFive day centres for the elderly will remain open after months of uncertainty.
Byron View (closed since Covid), Colne, the Derby Centre in Ormskirk, Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham, Teal Close (also closed since Covid) in Thornton Cleveleys and Vale View in Lancaster had all been part of a review by Lancashire County Council into the facilities it runs.
In February this year, five care homes that had been part of the same review were saved from potential closure but up until this week, there was no announcement on the day centres.
It has been revealed that a public consultation saw more than three quarters of people who responded opposed to their possible closure.
'A pivotal moment'
The lessons learned from the public consultation will now be used to help shape a "new model of care".
At a cabinet meeting a recommendation that will see the authority work with those who use the service, carers and communities to "design future services" was approved.
Speaking at the meeting, the cabinet member for adult social care, county councillor Graham Dalton said of the consultation that the authority had received "strong and honest feedback" which would be used to shape the whole service, not just the initial ten facilities.
He said: "This was a genuine consultation, we need to move on to an eight week programme of co-production, working with the people to whom we deliver this care, this is a pivotal moment, this is not about change being done to people, it's about working together as equals to build something stronger."
The leader of the opposition, county councillor Azhar Ali said he fully supported "co-production", and that it "was the way forward", but queried why this was not done sooner in the process.
He also said: "It's important that it is with not only services users, but involves friends groups and elected members."
An eight week strategic review will now take place to return to cabinet in September.
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