Showdown over plans to close mental-health centre
CONTROVERSIAL plans to shut a day centre for people with mental health problems are expected to be criticised by campaigners at a public meeting today.
Supporters of the Open Door Project on Victoria Embankment – which is currently used by around 70 people – were set to attend the meeting in the Long Meadow Day Centre, The Meadows, at 11am to plead with city council representatives to keep it open.
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Investment plans: Councillor Dave Liversidge.
The local authority says the closure is part of £1 million plans to reinvigorate mental health services in the city.
But campaigners and people who attend the centre, which has been running for 25 years, say the Open Door Project provides vital care and support and relocating users to a difference places would cause more problems.
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Bob Aston, 74, of Keyworth is a member of the Nottingham Rethink Group which strives for better mental health services. He said he was appalled by the plans.
"Our local day centre facilities and hospital services for people with mental health problems have already suffered draconian cut-backs in the past few years," he said.
"Many people suffering from mental illness are not well enough to make effective complaints."
Councillor Dave Liversidge, the city's portfolio holder for adult services, said last week that the closure of Open Door was part of a £1 million investment in adult care in the coming year and the council wanted to "reorganise" residential and day care services in the city.
Current Open Door users may end up travelling to the Acorn Resource Centre, at the Mary Potter Centre, in Hyson Green, to get the same service.
No date for the closure has been confirmed.
4 Comments
by Rambuile
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:59PM
“How dare they politicise our issues! How dare they break up our coommunity when we need it to survive! No mention was made of meeting their obligation to provide care in the community. Yet they think they can blow us away because they feel like it. Think again. We are marginalised, excluded citizens. When was the last time someone with mental health needs became a councillor or held public office? As a Nation we are cowed into silence on mental health. If they think anyone at this meeting will be paying Them a council tax this April they can think again. No Compulsion Without Representation! And never mess with the mentally ill.”
by kent14
Monday, February 18 2013, 8:29PM
“sivictim. this is what i'm getting at. thousands can be spent on jobsworth pen pushers while the people that matter do'nt count.”
by SiVictim
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:10PM
“Absolutely crazy that services for those living with mental illnesses are being cut everywhere. For many service users, this is a lifeline and a vital part of recovery”
by kent14
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:03PM
“can someone tell me how much of tax payers money is spent on the salaries of union reps in the nhs?”