'Please don't close my mum's vital day care centre'

An image of Theresa (on the left) and Sharon Waring (on the right). Theresa is wearing a pink and grey stripy jumper, while Sharon has on a black Guns N' Roses band t-shirt. They are both sitting on a pink floral settee. There is a grey stuffed teddy bear behind Sharon.

Sharon Waring said the Derby Centre is a lifeline for her mother Theresa Waring

Gina Millson
Lancashire political reporter

The uncertain future of a council-run day care centre for the elderly, people with disabilities and early stage dementia has left families fearing it could be closed.

Sharon Waring said the Derby Centre in Ormskirk is a lifeline for her mother Theresa Waring, who is 83 and has Alzheimers.

The day centre is one of 10 facilities across the county now being reviewed by Lancashire County Council following a cabinet meeting at the Reform UK-run authority.

The council said nothing had been decided at this stage and a public consultation will now be carried out, but it has left some families worried.

Theresa Waring visits the centre several times a week and said she would be "lost without it."

She said: "We do a lot, we're never bored, we do quizzes, we do cookery, we do competitions, I get picked up by the door, I get brought home - it's brilliant."

A white sign with the words Derby Centre on them in black. The sign has the branding of Lancashire County Council. It is on a red brick wall.

The Derby Centre in Ormskirk is one of ten facilities under scrutiny

Sharon said: "It'd be absolutely devastating, because people that are going through the stages of dementia, it helps stimulate them and if they shut the day care centres down people like my mum would just deteriorate.

"These places are a godsend and they change people's lives and make people's lives better."

Graham Dalton, the cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Adult social care has just recieved a CQC "requires improvement" rating. That needs to change, so we're starting to look at everything.

"I realise this may now be quite worrying for people.

"This is a review of how things are done and how adequate they are, if these buildings aren't suitable, if the care is not suitable or something needs to change.

"No decision has been made."

The care homes under scrutiny are Favordale in Colne, Grove House in Adlington, Milbanke in Kirkham, Thornton House in Thornton Cleveleys and Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors.

The day centres are Byron View, Colne, the Derby Centre in Ormskirk, Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham, Teal Close in Thornton Cleveleys and Vale View in Lancaster.

The consultation will run for eight weeks, with recommendations being brought back to members for a final decision in February.

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