The NHS could replace respite centres for people with autism and learning disabilities with caravans and hotels.
Calling for “better choice and better facilities”: Dr Janet Walker
The NHS on Teeside, in the North East, has put forward the proposal.
Similar measures could also be investigated elsewhere, as they are part of the NHS’s national transforming care agenda.
The agenda is looking at how people with learning disabilities can use a wider range of services close to their home.
Dr Janet Walker is chairman of NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group. She put out a joint statement with Dr Boleslaw Posmyk, chairman of Hartlepool and Stockton Clinical Commissioning Group.
‘Better facilities’ than respite centres
The statement said people want “better choice and better facilities”.
The two doctors added: “We believe that we need to offer a better package of services for people, away from a hospital setting, closer to people’s homes.”
Currently, the NHS on Teeside offers overnight respite through two centres. These are Bankfields Court in Middlesbrough, and Aysgarth, in Stockton-on-Tees.
The NHS says the existing two respite centres cost £1.5 million a year to run. It adds that it could spend the money better on a broader range of services.
Bankfields Court is used by 51 people with different needs, while 43 people go to Aysgarth.
Joint statement: Dr Boleslaw Posmyk
Consultation offers two options
In a consultation that runs until November, 10 people can choose between two options.
The first option involves buying a range of bed-based services to replace the existing NHS ones. This could include using facilities such as hotels and caravan parks.
The other option is to maintain Bankfields and Aysgarth, while buying some community-based services.
The second option would mean the NHS could buy fewer community services because of the need to go on paying for Bankfields and Aysgarth.
Related:
- Families win fight for respite care
- Parents fight council’s respite cuts
- Social workers ‘beg’ for respite
- Family take action over respite closure
Published: 20 September 2017
