Beith listens to users at Amble Day Centre

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jul 2009

Users of Amble Day Centre had the chance to tell local MP Sir Alan Beith about their experiences and their concerns about the future of daytime support services for the elderly when he spent an hour listening to their views at the centre on Friday.

Users of Amble Day Centre tell Alan Beith how much they value the service and the respite it provides for their carers.

Following announcements that the future of day centres provided by Northumberland County Council were under review, many users and carers have been in touch with Alan Beith to tell him about the importance of the Amble Day Centre in their lives.

Alan Beith said

"People using the centre in Amble are extremely pleased with the services they receive, the friendship and support of the staff and the respite the Day Centre gives their carers, and it is very important to me that we listen to what they have to say.

"I have been assured by Northumberland County Council and the Northumberland Care Trust that if people want to continue to use traditional day services, like the centre at Amble, they will be able to do so.

"I've had many letters and emails already on this subject and hope people will continue to let me know their views on the future of day support for the elderly. I will be making a submission shortly before 20 August, when the consultation ends, and that will be put up on my website.

"It is also extremely important for people to be assured that this consultation only applies to the centres run directly by Northumberland County Council and not the services provided by other organisations such as Age Concern. In the Berwick upon Tweed constituency the Amble Day Centre is the only service being looked at."

He added

"Throughout the entire county there are over 2000 people who have been assessed as needing support during the day and I hope that the end result of this consultation will lead to a system that can help everyone, including the 350 or so people who use council-run day centre services at present."