Day Care closure postponed

Cheshire East are undertaking a review of all services for older people that promote independence and have agreed that Age Concern won't close existing Day Care provision in the area until the end of March 2011.

As regular readers will be aware, users, carers and other concerned individuals; the Audlem Practice Patient Panel; and Audlem Parish Council have all been campaigning to stop or delay the planned withdrawal by Age Concern from Day care provision at Thornton House and other locations in Cheshire.

Age Concern had already agreed to defer Audlem's closure to January next year following a letter from the Parish Council Sub Committee. The Age Concern Cheshire's Chief Executive met the sub committee last week to discuss Day Care running costs and staff roles – more on this shortly.

The Sub Committee has also written to Cheshire East Social Services director, Phil Lloyd, saying: "As the local authority commissioners of the current service via Age Concern Cheshire, the Parish Council also needs to discuss with you the redirection of relevant finances to ensure the continuation of this vital social care service in our village."

In the meantime, the good news is that the changes announced by Age Concern have been pushed back many months; it had been said originally the closure plans might come into effect at the end of August this year. The postponement will now provide a decent breathing space in which to organise a suitable replacement service.

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