Wirral Borough Council, which is situated on the east bank of the river Mersey, is planning to close all five of its respite care homes by March 31st, without providing proper alternative care. This decision has been taken in accordance with central government demands for spending cuts.

Even so, it is so short sighted and callous that, even with a tory majority on the council, I can hardly believe it has been taken.

A user of one of the homes is serving a judicial review on the council to keep all 5 open.

As a result, the Council has been served with an injunction preventing them from closing any of the homes until the matter is sorted. The initial hearing is to be held in Manchester on Thursday March 17th, and Wirral TUC will be hiring a coach to take protesters over there.

WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!!!

I'll post more details as I get them.

If you can come and support us, and let other people know, then we will be extremely grateful.

Bear in mind that this will probably end up as a test case. In other words, if we are successful, then Wirral will be quoted as a precedent for similar closures around the country.

For anyone who's not up to speed with such matters, respite care is what it says on the tin. The homes exist so that anyone who's caring for a sick or elderly person can get a short break from what is literally a 24 hour nightmare, knowing that their loved ones have been left in capable hands. They are also rehabilitation centres in cases where someone being cared for is taken sick and cannot be looked after at home. In other words they take a little bit of the strain off the NHS.

This is one fight we have absolutely got to win. I know because I spent several years looking after my mother when she was crippled, sick, senile and doubly incontinent. Almost ten years after she went into a home full time, I am still suffering the effects of stress, depression, insomnia, and various other forms of psychological trauma. Without the alleviating benefit of respite care, God alone knows what sort of a state I would be in now. Let's make sure nobody ever has to find out.

Fraternal Cheers,

Fred.