Families and service users in Wirral have described day services for disabled adults as a 'critical lifeline' amid a council review that could lead to significant changes. Wirral Council is currently evaluating its Adult Day Services, which provide daytime support to individuals with learning disabilities across eight centres.
Council Review Options
The council is considering a range of possibilities, from maintaining the current model to outsourcing services to private providers or moving away from building-based care entirely. Over 100 people gathered at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Thursday, June 12, to showcase the support provided by council-run services and to express their concerns.
Impact of Previous Closures
In September 2024, Heswall Day Centre was closed for essential repairs and later listed for sale. The ECHO learned that the 52 individuals who attended the centre, some on a daily basis, were dispersed to other facilities. A full refurbishment was estimated to cost £5.6 million. The council has stated that the current building-based model 'poses a risk of long-term dependency, which may not always lead to the best outcomes for people accessing the service.'
Voices of Those Affected
Joanne Wright, 49, from Moreton, attends Oakenholt Day Centre. Her sister Clare Young, 54, said: 'We don't want to lose any more centres. The people using them build strong relationships, and we cannot have any more of those relationships being destroyed. Their mental health has suffered enough.'
Tom Perry, 28, from New Brighton, works at the Courtyard Café at Royden Park, which is largely staffed by service users. He said: 'If these services went, I would be lost.' Amy Austin, 33, from Bidston, has worked at Bluebells Tearooms for eight years and echoed: 'It's very important to me. I'd be lost without it.'
Dave Hughes, 47, works at Cambridge Road Day Centre and remarked: 'It's a place for people to go and thrive and feel valued. We make them visible. If you take this away from them a lot of people will become socially isolated.'
Council's Commitment
Councillor Sue Powell-Wilde, Chair of Wirral Council's Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, stated: 'We are committed to getting this right—putting residents first and designing services that meet their needs now and into the future by building modern, flexible support that truly works for the people who rely on it.' She acknowledged that change can be difficult and assured that any proposals would include strong transitional measures.
Valerie Brown, 67, from Wallasey, whose sister Janet attended Heswall Day Centre for 40 years before its closure, said: 'When the centre closed, she couldn't understand why she couldn't go in... It was her lifeline.' She added: 'A lot of these people don't have their own voice, so we've got to really stand proud and fight for these centres.'
Sheena Henell, 59, described a 'constant fight' to keep day centres open, while Norman Bradshaw, 67, noted: 'Any changes to our son's routine cause havoc and distress to him.' John Daulby, 73, father of Benjamin, 49, warned: 'If the council get this wrong then it will build up mental health problems. It will cause a knock-on effect where people using the services will end up needing more support. It's critical.'
The consultation closed last month, and the council is now reviewing feedback. No final decisions have been made, and a report with recommendations will be presented to councillors.
