The closure of Anchorage Day Care Centre in Pembroke Dock has prompted a question in the Senedd, but the answer just led to frustration.
Following contact from a number of concerned constituents with their fears over the proposed closure, Samuel Kurtz MS raised the topic with the Leader of the House (Trefnydd) in the Senedd.
He called for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the provision of adult day care centres in Wales.
The Pembrokeshire County Council-owned Anchorage Centre “provides a safe place for a number of our most vulnerable adults,” said Mr Kurtz, “with one family member describing it as a ‘family’ which could be split up if the Council’s plans come to fruition.”
The centre is earmarked for closure despite a petition signed by hundreds calling for it to remain open.
Citing Welsh Government statutory guidance for adult placement services, he told the Senedd: “Family members of those who attend Anchorage believe that the actions of Pembrokeshire County Council have contravened those regulations.”
Of the response he got, the Senedd Member said it “was unnecessarily political, ignoring the fact that there are people involved here.”
“It frustrated me no end,” he added.
Following contact from a number of concerned constituents with their fears over the proposed closure, Samuel Kurtz MS raised the topic with the Leader of the House (Trefnydd) in the Senedd.
He called for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the provision of adult day care centres in Wales.
The Pembrokeshire County Council-owned Anchorage Centre “provides a safe place for a number of our most vulnerable adults,” said Mr Kurtz, “with one family member describing it as a ‘family’ which could be split up if the Council’s plans come to fruition.”
The centre is earmarked for closure despite a petition signed by hundreds calling for it to remain open.
Citing Welsh Government statutory guidance for adult placement services, he told the Senedd: “Family members of those who attend Anchorage believe that the actions of Pembrokeshire County Council have contravened those regulations.”
Of the response he got, the Senedd Member said it “was unnecessarily political, ignoring the fact that there are people involved here.”
“It frustrated me no end,” he added.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Can I please call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
00:04on the provision of adult daycare centres in Wales?
00:08The Pembrokeshire County Council-owned Anchorage Daycare Centre in Pembroke Dock has been a
00:12safe haven for vulnerable adults with learning difficulties and additional needs for many
00:16decades.
00:17Many important relationships between attendees have developed over this time.
00:22Indeed, one parent told me that it's like a family.
00:25Sadly, the centre is earmarked for closure despite a petition signed by hundreds calling
00:30for it to remain open.
00:31Its closure would mean serious disruption for those that attend, some of the most vulnerable
00:36adults, and would severely impact their well-being.
00:40Page 9 of the Welsh Government's statutory guidance for adult placement services states
00:44that the following requirement on service providers is made, and I quote, ëmaintaining
00:50oversight of financial arrangements and investments in the business to ensure financial sustainability
00:54so that individuals using the service are supported to achieve their personal outcomes
00:59and are protected from the risk of unplanned removal or charge in the service provided
01:05due to financial pressuresí.
01:06So, family members of those who attend Anchorage believe that the actions of Pembrokeshire
01:11County Council have contravened these regulations, and I would be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary
01:16would give either an oral or a written statement on the provision of adult daycare centres
01:22in Wales so that sites such as the Anchorage daycare centre can be safeguarded for future
01:28generations.