2 weeks Ago
At a public meeting held by Hampshire UNISON in Basingstoke Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 16, residents and users of Newman Court shared their concerns with the as the elderly day care service faces the possibility of closure. Hampshire County Council (HCC) is proposing to stop the service in a bid to save money amid a budget shortfall of at least £97.6m for 2025/26, but there are calls for the "vital service" to stay open.
Chris Morris, 73, uses Newman Court to assist with care for his wife Pat, 90, who suffers from dementia. "My wife attends it," he said, "It gives me the respite that I need, peace of mind that she's there in safety. "And it allows me time to do the things that I need to do, that you can't do if you are giving 24/7 care every day of the week.
It gives me that freedom." Chris explained that he was told to seek services further afield, but said the time it would take to travel would contradict the idea of it being respite. He said: "If that's taken away, which is what the proposal is, I was asked to attend either Reading or Farnborough.
"Then you're going to put four hours of me travelling, which takes away the whole idea of respite care. "The stress of driving these days, when you're elderly, is hard enough, without adding any more stress to it." Chris fears that this uncertainty would take its toll on both his own health and the health of Pat.
He added: "My main concern would be the effect it would have on my wife, and on myself. "My own mental health would suffer greatly because if you're stuck with that 24/7 period, it is extremely difficult. "Bringing up a child, they say about the terrible two.
But when this goes on for 10 years or more, it is unbelievable. And I know many people that have contemplated suicide as a carer. "Continuity is the main thing because they interact with each other.
They get to know them to a certain degree. But then, to change it is the worst thing you can do with anyone with dementia, is to upset the norm." Natasha Clark explained the service Newman Court offers is crucial, and fears the consequences could be detrimental if it is taken away.
She called on residents to come together in support of Newman Court. She said: "It's fundamentally a really important service that should not be closed. "There are very vulnerable people out there using Newman Court, and maybe in a few years time, I will need that for my father-in-law.
"It is a service that needs looking after. It needs to stay open. And we need people to help us to help it to stay open.
" Natasha explained that the County Council doesn't understand the importance of the facility and what it offers to elderly residents. She said: "It's a vital service that provides respite for their families as well as stimulation, social interaction, and nutritional meals. "I think just having an appetito meal at lunchtime, then half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening is not good enough to support our elderly care in Basingstoke.
" Hampshire County Council's leader, Councillor Nick Adams-King, has urged residents to take part in the . Previously, he said: "Prioritising the delivery of vital public services to residents who are most in need is our crucial core function. "Asking our residents for their views is vital to this – please do take the opportunity to have your say.
" The consultation will explore other areas for potential savings, including highway maintenance and post-16 transport eligibility. The council hopes these proposed changes will contribute approximately £9.9m towards balancing the budget while still delivering essential services to those in need.
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