Mum to lose 'lifeline' service over rising costs

A mum from Worcestershire says she is set to lose a "complete and utter lifeline" after it was announced the county's two respite centres will close to adults.

Osborne Court in Malvern and Church View in Bromsgrove, provide short breaks for 62 disabled adults.

Tina Southall, from Lindridge, relies on Osborne Court to take care of her 23-year-old daughter, Dalcie, one night a week giving her valuable time off from providing round the clock care.

But that service will end in June, with a spokesperson for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust explaining that "rising service costs" meant it would not be able to provide the same "high‑quality care".

They added: "Regrettably, we have not been able to identify a financially sustainable option that would allow us to continue delivering replacement care services at the standard we strive to maintain."

Dalcie was diagnosed with global developmental delay at a young age, meaning she needs "everything doing for her".

Her mum described her as a "happy soul" but said the nurse-led respite care centre allowed her the chance to get some sleep and to "drop" her shoulders without worrying.

Southall said she "cannot believe" the decision has been made to stop the service at the Malvern centre.

"I have an immense trust with Osbourne Court, they're very professional and very caring," she said.

"It's a complete and utter lifeline for me so I might get some sleep tonight and for the rest of the family."

Southall added that she did not believe there was enough "focus" on adult special needs.

"It's all about up to the age of 18 and then from 18 you almost feel like you just drop off the edge," she said.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said it was now "developing its own in-house offer" as an alternative which could be in place by "summer of 2026".

The spokesperson said: "Our offer will have options in Malvern, Worcester and Bromsgrove and will be designed to meet the needs of adults who have an assessed need for replacement care within Worcestershire."

But strategic director for Adults and Communities, Mark Fitton, said the local authority could not provide any assurance to families the new service would be nurse-led.

He said: "I can't give that assurance, that the new service will be nurse-led.

"But what the new provision will do absolutely is make sure, as a local authority, we meet our statutory obligations."

The changes at Osborne Court in Malvern and Church View in Bromsgrove will only affect adults with a similar service for children remaining unaffected.

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