A MOTHER caring for her disabled daughter feels carers' opinions are being “fobbed off” by BCP Council. 

Gillian Worsfold, 69, cares for her daughter, Laura Humphreys, 38, who has a rare brain defect and has been attending adult day centre, Christchurch Connect, since she was 19 years old.

A consultation was previously launched by BCP Council, considering closing the day centres in favour of community-based services.

However, Gillian said the closure would be ‘detrimental’ to carers like her who rely on the respite and for the service-users who need the routine.

BCP Council’s cabinet decided to keep the day centres open, with looking to increase community services, however Gillian said carers’ opinions are being ‘fobbed off’.

“They could ask Laura if she likes going to the allotment and she would say she loves it, but they’re not looking at the greater picture,” said Gillian.

“She likes it because she likes the member of staff that takes her, the person that has been supporting her all this time and the routine of it.”

She added that without regular day centres carers will end up “exhausted.”

“Our kids aren’t capable of going out into the community.”

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Cllr David Brown, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, BCP Council, said: “We work with Tricuro to deliver social care support for adults across the conurbation including at Christchurch Connect, which is remaining open as a day centre, alongside Boscombe Connect, Parkstone Connect and Moordown Plus.

“The Day Opportunities Strategy set out a priority to increase the community-based services and was agreed by cabinet on March 6, 2024.

“The Trusted Reviewers, as part of the Community Action Network, (CAN), are engaging with people who receive a day opportunity as the first phase of a wider project to explore and understand what people would like to see developed as part of that priority.

“Although the way services are delivered may change, BCP Council remain committed to providing support to people who need it.

“Our priority has been to ensure that adults who need our care are at the heart of all decision making, that they feel supported, that we understand their concerns and what they think the impact will be on them before making any final decisions.”

Karen Loftus, CEO of Community Action Network (CAN), said: “The Trusted Reviewers Project, commissioned by BCP Council, creates space for people to express what things matter to them, and what they might want to do if they had the opportunity.

“The work of our team helps to ensure that community voice and choice is included in the conversation to influence future developments.”