I'm scared to leave Hester in respite care, says mum
A MOTHER has branded the quality of adult respite care for her disabled daughter as her 'worst fears' come true.
Mhairi Macgregor's 22-year old daughter, Hester, has cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. From 2001 until it closed its doors to adults at the beginning of last year, she attended The Croft daycare centre.
But since then, Ms Macgregor said her daughter has had to make do with 'wholly inadequate, unsuitable and antiquated' methods of care which have left her unhappy to leave Hester alone at the new facility at the Casquets.
'It is everything I wouldn't have wanted and everything I was promised I wasn't going to get.
'This is the worst place. The set-up is completely institutionalist and is what you would have expected 30 or 40 years ago. I am scared to leave her there for long.'
A spokeswoman for the Health and Social Services Department said procedures had been put in place to ensure the transition in care went smoothly, and they had done everything possible to take into account the needs of those who used the facilities. Feedback so far, it added, has been good.
'HSSD's Adult Disability Services worked closely with the 26 adults who used to receive respite at The Croft, and their families, to develop alternative respite services. It is well recognised how important respite and short breaks can be to service users and their families.
