Staffordshire day centres axe move is shelved

Controversial plans to axe day centres in Staffordshire for people with mental health problems have been shelved until the autumn.

The proposed shake-up involves closing seven day centres — including the Chartley Centre in Stafford, the Spring Meadow Centre in Cannock, and the Friary Day Service at the Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield.

But health watchdogs have secured an extra six months before the centres close and alternative arrangements come into force, following concerns about the speed with which the plans were being pushed through.

The scheme affects almost 700 users in the South Staffordshire primary care trust area as well as hundreds more carers and family members.

In a meeting with the trust's chief executive Geraint Griffiths, scrutiny chiefs voiced their disapproval over the six-week consultation time — which was half the usual three-month period for discussion.

They also said it should have made it clearer that it was always the intention to close the day services and that it was only the timing and implementation of the changes that were subject to consultation.

Statements about current services not being good enough were criticised for not being backed up with evidence.

They also voiced concerns over the lack of information about alternative care services.

Councillor Muriel Davis, chairwoman of Cannock Chase health scrutiny committee, who described the lack of detail as "frightening", said the stay of execution was only a partial victory.

"It still means closing centres leaving families with no respite from their care duties," she said. "We are told it will be a better system but I'm not convinced.

"We've succeeded in slowing down the process so the new arrangements can be properly discussed — it's a step forward."

Health bosses say research shows that 438 of the 680 people who use the current mental health services would be better supported under the new plan, with future care provided by "more appropriate" health teams.

They also say that the proposals — the result of talks over the past two years — will save the trust money.

The trust has agreed to recommend to the board that there will be no future deviation from the 12-week consultation period without the agreement of the scrutiny committee.

Mr Geraint also gave an assurance that day centres would not be closed until the needs of users could be fully met by other services.