James Joyce Open Letter - Adult Day Care Centres

12.00.00am GMT Sat 7th Nov 2009

Dear Sir or Madam

Protect the Vulnerable

I agree with Cllr David Harwood's comments about the need to do more with less with regards to Adult Social Services in Norfolk. While we know that the recession is to blame for an element of this predicament, we should not forget that it has been exacerbated by the Council's predicted loss of some £6m in Icelandic banks and five years of poor Tory financial management within the department.

Daniel Cox is on record as saying "we will protect front line services" however what we are seeing in reality is that whenever cuts are being made it is the frail, vulnerable and elderly who are hit the hardest. We are all aware of the current financial climate but you cannot simply cut day-care centres without putting something in their place. The cabinet should not be looking at closures but rather how to provide this invaluable service to the majority of elderly residents across Norfolk.

Even in hard times we have to have an effective long term vision, and caring for the elderly should be one of our highest priorities. Once something is taken away history shows it very rarely ever comes back. This is not a time to be closing day centres on cost alone.

Cllr James Joyce

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Adult Social Services