COUNCILLORS are deeply concerned about the closure of vital dementia services in Wellington early next year.

Stratfield House in Bulford, which has been catering for ten dementia clients a day and providing respite for carers, is to close at the end of January, it was recently announced.

Somerset County Council has decided to remove its funding for the service run by Somerset Partnership NHS Trust.

Tim Baverstock, the council’s strategic commissioning manager for adult social care, told members of Wellington Town Council last week that funding would go to individual clients for them to find and finance their own services.

Cllr Andrew Govier said it was ‘more bad news for Wellington’ and added that Stratfield House was a ‘lifeline’ for those with dementia and their carers.

“I think we should get in touch with the Somerset Partnership to see if they can continue services there,” he said. “It is a good service, but if it is not going to continue, we need to look at the services which are available for people in this particular situation.”

A spokesman for Wellington-based dementia charity Reminiscence Learning told the meeting it was already looking at possibly holding a day service on a Monday.

“We are very proud of what we do and we have raised the awareness of dementia locally,” he said.

Staff from Stratfield House told councillors the centre was not being used to its ‘full capacity’ and they were doing so much to help clients and their carers. “We aren’t just sat there drinking cups of tea, we are constantly assessing our clients,” they said.

Mr Baverstock told councillors the contract with Somerset NHS Partnership would expire at the end of January and would not be renewed as ‘demand had decreased and spending had gone up’.

“The service will be changing and continue in one shape or another,” he said. “But we need to come up with the right options. People who are entitled to respite will continue to receive the respite they need but we are just looking at doing things a different way.”

Councillors cannot understand why Stratfield House needs to close when the services it provides are clearly needed.

“Why do we need to shut somewhere which seems to be well used,” said Cllr Janet Reed.

Cllr Lynda Russell-Cairns added: “I’m speechless. We are being told there aren’t enough people using the service by the council but staff are saying there is a waiting list? Why are we taking this service away from people?”

Cllr Ross Henley said that coping with dementia was already very stressful for those with the condition and their carers. “But to be told that you have to find your own services and respite must be even more stressful,” he said.

Councillors have said they are to discuss the situation further with various agencies to see what can be done about future dementia services in the town.