Council confirms closure of service for disabled adults in Ayr
Parents and carers say the loss of the Kyle Day Centre will have a big impact on the community
Parents in Ayr say they’re devastated, after South Ayrshire Council confirmed a day centre for disabled adults will shut before the end of the year.
The decision to close the Kyle Day Centre was taken by the joint integration board, which faces mounting debt. It’s thought the move will save £180,736 annually.
But there’s concern about the impact losing the service will have on vulnerable people who rely on it. Fiona Morrison’s son is 10 and has learning difficulties. She had hoped he would use the centre when he turns 18, but now doesn’t know where they’ll turn.
She told us: “I’m devastated. It’s not just a resource to provide respite facilities for families, it’s about encouraging people and building on daily life skills.
“I don’t know how they’re going to be able to replace it.”
Social workers have found new places for most of the 24 people who currently use the Kyle Day Centre. But two families still need to find a replacement service before it closes on New Year’s Eve.
A council boss said there are now plans to get “rid” of the Kyle Day Centre building at St John’s Primary.
Speaking at this week’s leadership panel SNP Councillor Julie Dettbarn said: “It is never an easy decision to close a service.”
Depute leader Councillor Brian McGinley, Labour said: “These are very vulnerable people.
“Change could be difficult for them.”
He called for assurances that efforts are being made to find a new service for them.
South Ayrshire Council complained there wasn’t a proper consultation on the move.
The decision was taken by the Integration Joint Board, which oversees health and social care.
Chief executive Eileen Howat said: “This is probably a bad example of how we would go through the process.”
A council report presented to councillors said: “It is acknowledged that there has been a lack of consultation with the council during the decision making period.”
Fifteen people who go to the centre will now attend Hansel instead while another two will go to Turning Point and elsewhere.
The Kyle Day Centre staff who decided not to take voluntary redundancy are due to be redeployed elsewhere in the council .
The Integration Joint Board is under pressure to cut spending in health and social care as it faces mounting debt.
The crisis hit board has racked up £3.2 million debt forcing South Ayrshire Council to wade in with the cash to keep services running.
The board has made savage cuts, including scrapping “Franks’ Law” funding for people under the age of 65 with conditions like dementia, three months after it came into force in Scotland.