Reported in the Eastern Daily Press

6th November 2009

Elderly people braved the elements to deliver a no-nonsense “save our day centres” message.

They were among dozens of people at a Norwich public meeting to debate the possible closure of two city day centres - the Essex Rooms and Silver Rooms - and the withdrawal of two days of services at Hempnall Mill at Hempnall.

At a meeting at Christchurch Rooms on Constitution Hill, chaired by former Norwich North MP Ian Gibson, the council's director of adult social services Harold Bodmer was given a rough time by angry people in the audience.

Hilda Bullen, 81, from Wodehouse Street, said she used the Silver Rooms on Silver Road twice a week and would use it more if she could.

She said: “We have lots of people who use the day centre, some of them with the beginnings of dementia. Their carers need the time off. We can entertain them and look after them. It's about companionship and friendship. I live on my only and this is the only companionship I get.”

Barbara Wiltshire, 72, from Don Pratt Court, has collected more than 250 names on a petition urging the council to keep the centres open.

She said simply: “We like to be together. And we cannot be together if these day centres are closed.”

Mr Bodmer stressed that no decision had been made by the council and that there would be full consultation of “all day centre users and their carers” before the future of the three day centres was decided.

The proposed day centre closures are the result of a county council review of all day services for older people.

Officers are asking members to approve a policy that focuses money on in-house services for people with the greatest need, specialising in dementia care and work to make people more independent.

Mr Bodmer said: “That's the greatest need in Norfolk and the best thing to do is to focus our resources on that. We have 15 day centres across Norfolk. We have looked at their fitness for purpose as buildings. Three of them we felt were not suitable: the Essex Rooms and Silver Rooms in Norwich and services we run at Hempnall Mill.

“The consequence of that policy decision is that those three buildings would stop providing standards day care. Cabinet on Monday will be asked to approve the policy and a period of consultation. Members have given an assurance that nobody will be without a day service and that we will provide alternative services.”

A final decision will be made by the council's cabinet after consultation ends on January 13.