Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the proposed closure of Riseley Street Respite Service.

The committee considered a report from Mike O’Regan of Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust on the proposed closure of Riseley Street Respite Service.

It was explained to the Committee that a level 2 consultation had been carried out in November, which raised issues regarding the respite centre in Crook Lane, Winsford. The Centre had recently been flooded which had created difficulties in offering alternative services for users at both Riseley Street and Primrose Avenue in Crewe which had also been subject to a consultation on closure.

The consultations had been launched as the three sites collectively were running at around 40-45% occupancy levels. Following legal advice the decision was made to have a further 4 week consultation on the proposed closures, covering the issues at all of the sites. The implications had been considered in detail at the Cheshire East Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. 

After consideration of the report, the following points were raised;

      Concerns were expressed over the numbers of people who are assessed or actually need respite care and over the possible confusion about the local boundaries from which people can access respite care. The proposed changes also raised questions about payment, as NHS facilities were provided free of charge, whereas service users transferring to Social Care respite facilities could be charged. The arrangements intended to deal with this were explained in detail.

      A change of wording in the report was noted by committee in that it should read; “discussed” rather than “accepted in Principle” on page 10 of the Agenda. 

RESOLVED: That the Report be received and a further report be made in due course on the outcome of the consultations.