'This move will kill my 83-year-old dad'

David Alexander, 49, who lives in Tang Hall, York, says his father Norman, who suffers from dementia, would be a victim of "cost-cutting" if health bosses go ahead with plans to close the elderly mental health unit at Acomb Gables, in Oak Rise.

The changes would save cash for the debt-ridden Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), but managers say that is not the motivating factor.

"I believe it will kill him if he has to move out - it's purely a money-saving exercise," Mr Alexander said.

"His illness has stripped him of everything - the only thing he has left is the comfort of this place (Acomb Gables)."

PCT managers plan to close the unit and channel funds into an expanded home care service for mentally ill elderly people living in the community.

Residents at Acomb Gables, which has up to 15 beds, would be moved to other facilities and the centre used for other NHS purposes. The trust's Stray Garth facility, in Stockton Lane, Heworth, which houses about 15 residents, could also be closed under the changes.

Mr Alexander, who is organising a petition to keep open the facility, said his father had lived at Acomb Gables for about two years.

Norman served in the Rifle Brigade during the Second World War as a driver of gun and troop carriers and was involved in the campaign to liberate Italy. After the war, he later worked for British Rail as a line engineer and at Armstrong Patents factory, making shock absorbers.

"My dad was moved around a fair bit but has really settled at Acomb Gables and is quite happy," Mr Alexander said.

"Every time dad moved in the past he has deteriorated dramatically and become depressed. I don't think he can handle another move and believe this is the last home he'll have. As far as I'm concerned, it's hands off Acomb Gables."

Coun Sandy Fraser, Labour opposition spokesman for adult social services and health, said he had expressed concern to PCT chiefs that the changes would be seen as a cost-cutting exercise "given their budget problems".

"They did accept that there were savings to be made from the proposals, but said this wasn't the driving force behind the change," he said. "We sought assurances that the building would remain a health service resource and they've given that."

Garry Millard, the PCT's director of mental health and social inclusion, said: "The scheme is to look to move those people who are currently within Acomb Gables into the vacancies we have within the service.We are very mindful that this is a significant change for people, particularly people who have been in Acomb Gables for a long time".

The proposal to close the 15-year-old unit will be put to the PCT's committee next month and if it is approved, residents will be moved from the home by February.

Mr Millard told members of the city council's social services and health scrutiny board last week that the building will continue to be used by the PCT.

He said Stray Garth care home, in Heworth, could also be closed and residents there moved to Acomb Gables.

"That is one of the thoughts that is a lot further down the road," he said. "We have a number of facilities in the community and we need to work through the issues with Acomb Gables. But it would provide a good opportunity for a better quality of life for residents."

Mr Millard said one option for Acomb Gables residents would be to move to the Meadowfields care unit, in Nelson's Lane, off Tadcaster Road.

Coun Janet Hopton said she was concerned about losing the unit.

She said: "I think the new service is an excellent idea, but I feel very uneasy at the loss of these beds.

"There is going to be added pressure on carers, many of them elderly and I wonder if it is optimistic to think you would not fill the beds as the number of older people increases."

Coun Sue Galloway, the council's executive member for social services, said: "I do not see this as purely a cost-cutting exercise.

"Both the PCT and the council are looking at how services for adults can be reconfigured to meet the challenges facing both organisations over the next ten to 15 years".

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "The NHS will still need to care for elderly people with severe dementia or other mental health problems. I wouldn't want them to close Acomb Gables without making alternative provision for these types of patients and without consulting fully with the residents, their families and the wider public".

Acomb Gables is one of six community units for the elderly run by the PCT and has 26 nursing staff.

Is a member of your family affected by the changes? If so contact reporter Matthew Woodcock on 01904 653051 ext 305 or e-mail matthew.woodcock@ycp.co.uk

Former minister gives her support

WORRIED David Alexander is hoping to enlist the support of controversial former health minister Edwina Currie in the battle to keep his dad in Acomb Gables.

Mr Alexander has written to Mrs Currie to explain his plight because she visited the unit while a senior member of the Conservative Government in September, 1988.

She toured the facility, which was then new, and praised it as "community care in the best possible way".

Mr Alexander noticed a plaque at Acomb Gables which marked the visit, so decided to ask for her help in keeping it open.

In an e-mail to Mrs Currie he says: "The reasons given for the (proposed) closure seem to be about money saving, without due consideration to the residents' needs.

"I am going to be protesting about the closure and am wondering if you would be willing to help by way of writing a letter of concern for the closure of this much- needed unit. I do hope you are willing to do this for me and all the residents of the home who will suffer greatly by the closure."

Mr Alexander got this reply from Edwina Currie: "I am sorry to hear about this, David.

"I've sent a copy of your email to the person you mention as responsible and asked for their reply. Let's see what comes.

"The best-placed person to help is, of course, your own MP. I'm not in the Commons any more, so my influence is limited."

Trust's cash struggle

YORK health chiefs are suffering a cash crisis and grappling with millions of pounds of debt.

The Evening Press recently reported that Selby and York Primary Care Trust, which operates Acomb Gables, is forecasting a debt of £9.968 million by April 2006. The figure is expected to slip to £47 million if nothing is done.

Meanwhile, night health care services in other parts of the region are being slashed by a third, the Evening Press can reveal.

Only two GPs are now responsible for out-of-hours cover in 1,000 square miles of North Yorkshire, including Malton, Pickering and Scarborough.

Following the collapse of doctors' co-operative NYED last year, Ryedale and Scarborough's GP service from 11pm to 8am was transferred to a private company, Primecare. Although Primecare runs the clinical service, the Scarborough, Ryedale and Whitby Primary Care Trust (PCT) still has overall responsibility for out-of-hours care.

This week the PCT announced its decision to cut the number of overnight emergency GPs from three to two.

Community caf closing

ELDERLY volunteers at a popular community caf which raises money for the Acomb Gables pensioners today expressed sadness at their decision to close.

Members of the Friends of Acomb Gables have raised almost £100,000 for the unit since they first opened its adjoining coffee shop, in Oak Rise, in the late-1980s. The committee, which has 25 volunteers and operates the caf between 10am and 4pm Mondays to Saturdays, funds medical equipment for the unit's elderly residents, along with their haircuts, flowers and treats like sweets.

Treasurer Joan Marsden said they had reluctantly decided to close the coffee shop because of the proposed changes.

"We're very sad about it," she said. "The coffee shop has served the community so much. The money we've raised has helped to fulfil their needs and make the place very comfortable for them." Chairwoman Sheila Harrison, from Dringhouses, who has been a volunteer for eight years, said: "We're very disappointed that this has happened. We don't see the point of carrying on if there will be nobody there (at the unit).

"Everything we've done has been to make the residents' lives easier."

The coffee shop will officially close at 4pm on Wednesday, December 21.

Updated: 16:17 Monday, December 12, 2005