'Cuts to disability day care would be devastating'

Relatives of adults with learning disabilities in Aberdeenshire have said any cuts to day services would be "devastating".

The Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership is currently reviewing its day centre provision as part of plans to save millions of pounds.

Families and carers of adults with learning disabilities met with Aberdeenshire councillors at Fraserburgh Leisure Centre on Thursday and urged them to protect the "essential" services.

The Accounts Commission warned earlier this year that the financial position of Scotland's Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) - which oversee health partnerships - was "precarious".

Nireeca McNab helps to care for her 55-year-old aunt Isobel Ann in Fraserburgh.

Isobel Ann has attended the Robertson Road day centre in the town for the last 35 years.

"She really relies on the service," said Nireeca.

"Robertson Road is the only respite our family gets, we do really rely on that service because we are unpaid carers for both my granny and my auntie."

When Aberdeenshire's IJB set its budget earlier this year, it agreed that it would review several of the services it provides including in-house learning disability day services.

The review focuses on the building-based day services currently on offer in Fraserburgh, Crimond, Banff, Ellon and Inverurie.

This could see services focused on those with what are seen as the highest needs.

This includes those with profound multiple learning disabilities, behaviour that challenges, or those transitioning from school and requiring a period of assessment.

Individuals with low to moderate needs could be signposted to other support options.

As a result of this, the number of day centres could be reduced.

Nireeca said it would be "heart-breaking" for her family if the health and social care partnership cut the number of day centres.

She said: "The fact that this is even being considered an option is just unbelievable.

"I feel like the people making these decisions either don't have a heart or have never walked through the doors of Robertson Road, because if they did this wouldn't be happening.

"The joy and the excitement and the fun that happens behind the doors - you can't even imagine it."

She added: "We're putting up a fight and we're not just going to stand here and take it because we really do rely on the service – it's not a luxury, it's essential."

Alison Duthie's son Kristopher, 19, also uses the Fraserburgh day centre.

"It means the world to him," she said. "If that is taken away from Kristopher, I really don't know what we would do.

"It's a very difficult time, it's a challenging time, it's an emotional time, because we don't know what's going to happen and they need structure."

Alison said the school gave her son "structure" and it would negatively impact their family if he lost that service.

She added: "If Kristopher didn't get to Robertson Road, I really don't know what would happen.

"We can entertain him so much, but he's there with all his friends, the staff are like friends to them.

"He's my boy, and you just want the best for him like any other parent. You just want the best. And as far as we are concerned just now it is Robertson Road."

Jeff Shaw, the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership manager for North Aberdeenshire, said it was facing "critical financial challenges" and must make more than £17m in savings this year.

"This means that we will have to do things differently, modernise and transform how we deliver our services, and we will need to do it quickly," he said.

"I understand and can empathise with the concerns of families, however I can reassure them that people with an assessed need will continue to receive support.

"Those with less profound need may no longer meet the criteria to attend our day services and will be supported and signposted to access wider community-based supports."

Older adult activity hubs and social care transport are also under review as part of cost-saving measures.

Reports on all the reviews will be brought back to the IJB at the end of May.