SIR,
While Brown and Cameron are vying with each other as to who will hack/destroy our health and social services, we the parent/carers of adults with learning difficulties in Monmouthshire are experiencing an advanced example of the future.
Budden Crescent, the only respite care home in the county, is under threat of closure by Monmouthshire County Council Social and Housing Services, who rent this building from Charter Housing. Should this happen we are faced with the alternatives they are proposing. These are adult placement, direct payment, which entails us making private arrangements for respite care.
For the majority of the forty families who use Budden Crescent this is unacceptable. In meetings with Social and Housing Services we have left them in no doubt that Budden Crescent is essential to our needs.
We have expressed solidarity with the excellent staff and their union, Unison. Budden Crescent has been operational for 18 years. The staff are highly trained and experienced. To quote a member of staff, "This is a home from home to our clients."
Wendy Lewis
(Wyesham)