Fears Black Country dementia centre may move despite vote
Campaigners fear the reprieve of a dementia centre may be overturned by Dudley Council despite a vote backing their demands.
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In April, a meeting of the authority unanimously supported a notice of motion to overturn scrapping the Crystal Gateway dementia service in Amblecote.
The vote followed the submission of a petition containing more than 4,000 signatures and a passionate plea to councillors from campaigner Lisa McDonnell calling for the service to be saved.
Former Conservative councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, who also played a leading role in the campaign, believes the council may be considering a change of plan.
Laura Taylor-Childs said: “We are still extremely pleased that the petition to retain the Dementia Day Centre at the Crystal Gateway in Brettell Lane has been listened to.
“However, we aren’t resting on our laurels yet, as chief officers are still reluctant to provide information to anyone on the next steps.”
Cllr Andrea Goddard, Dudley cabinet members for adult social care paused a possible move of the gateway to the Brett Young centre in Halesowen after the vote and is awaiting recommendations from a task and finish group on the future of dementia services in Dudley.
Cllr Goddard said: “We are absolutely committed to working with service users, their families and campaigners to ensure that the best and most appropriate services continue to be provided to them.
“We are delivering on every element of the agreed motion presented at last full council which includes the establishing of a cross-party task and finish group to review the future of our dementia services, effective and proactive consultation with staff at all levels, unions, carers and service users to inform this group, a commitment to retaining the Crystal Gateway as a community facility and writing to the government to impress the need for more funding into dementia services.
“Following this approved motion, we have written to all carers to inform them of the next steps.”
Campaigners gathered at Crystal Gateway to show how much they value the service in Amblecote.
Marlene Hanson, whose husband attended the day centre, said: “I’m delighted that I can continue to attend the carers’ group at the Crystal Gateway. The group provided me with invaluable support whilst I was my husband’s carer.
“The group also supported me when he passed away.
“Many of us couldn’t travel 40 minutes each way to drop a loved one off at a different centre or to attend a support group, which is why it’s so important to us that the day centre is safe in Brettell Lane”.
Ms Taylor-Childs added: “The Crystal Gateway is more than ‘just a building’ and is perfect for so many of those who attend.
“It was a joy to celebrate with carers who, just weeks ago, were in tears fearing that they would be unable to access this lifeline service in the future.”
Cllr Goddard added: “Carer and user input is essential to this process and as well as contributing to the group, we are holding an event on May 21 in central Dudley to which people have been invited and it’s open to everyone.
“All the information collected from these events will feed into the cross-party task and finish group.
“All leaders of the political groups have had conversations with myself and the director for adult social care, regarding the details of the amendment and a collective and constructive way forward.”
