Coronavirus: Day centres and respite care suspended by council

DAY centres and respite care run by Hampshire County Council have been temporarily closed amid the coronavirus crisis.

The council said it was following government guidance in shutting the facilities which offer support for people receiving adult social care and their informal carers.

Locally they include New Forest Community Link in New Milton, Solent Mead Day Centre in Lymington, and Romsey and Waterside Day Services in Totton.

HCC’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, Cllr Liz Fairhurst, said: “I recognise that these services are important sources of support for those who use them.

“Our day centres enable vulnerable adults receiving social care to meet others socially and connect with their local communities – while our respite services provide a short break to the dedicated informal carers who provide support and care for loved ones.

“In these challenging and unprecedented times, it is critical that we all follow the latest public health and government guidance to stay at home and away from others, to help keep people safe from further spread of coronavirus.”

She added: “We are currently working to find alternative ways to appropriately support our day centre and respite service users over the coming weeks.”

The shutdown was publicly announced last Friday when HCC said it was contacting adult social care service users and their carers to let them know.

As reported in the A&T, last week HCC also suspended visits to care homes it runs, including Cranleigh Paddock specialist dementia home in Lyndhurst, Bickerley Green nursing and residential home in Ringwood, and Forest Court nursing home in Calmore.

HCC’s waste recycling centres were also shut last week after a surge in visits the previous weeked to the sites, which include Efford at Lymington; Somerley at Ringwood; and Marchwood.

For general information about care arrangements, visit www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk.