A DESPERATE dad is demanding a closure threatened day care centre for adults with learning difficulties is saved from the axe.

 

Last week, city councillors voted to shut The Wedge on Barrhead Road and Southbrae Centre in Scotstoun and offer those who attend, places in centres in Riddrie and Carlton.

Social work bosses insist there has been a huge decline in the number of people opting to attend council run day-care centres making a number no longer financially viable.

But retired master butcher Robert Miller, 82 and his wife Margaret, 79 want Southbrae to be saved from closure.

Their daughter Deborah, 48, who suffers from severe bipolar disorder and epilepsy has attended the centre five days a week for the past 30 years.

And her parents are worried how the family will cope if Southbrae is shut.

Mr Miller, who lives in Jordanhill, said: "Her conditions mean she can fly off the handle and her balance is not good so she has got to have someone with her at all times and at Southbrae she has one on one support.

"The bus arrives at the house around 9.30am each day to take her to the centre and she is picked up there at 3pm to bring her home.

"It is a welcome break for myself and my wife. We used to take Debbie with us everywhere, including on holidays, but we have not had a holiday for the last five years because her condition has deteriorated.

"The main concern about her having to move somewhere else for day care is the upheaval.

"She has been going to Southbrae for the past 30 years and now they are going to take that away. I don't think she will be able to cope with that.

"My wife and myself will get the backlash because she will get out of hand."

Mr Miller admitted the stress of knowing the day care centre will close has already impacted on him and his wife.

He said: "My wife and I have been married well over 50 years and have never argued in our lives but we find now we are at each others throats.

"Things have got totally out of hand because of the stress the council has brought on us."

At present only 125 of the 418 people who used to attend council day care centres still do so.

A city council spokesman said: "We fully acknowledge that a change to the way support is provided can be challenging for individuals.

"However, recent reforms to our learning disability services are now being welcomed by service users and carers as they see the benefits of having greater choice and control over the support they receive.

"It is a simple fact that in these circumstances demand for services at Southbrae and the Wedge have fallen to unsustainable levels.

"Day service support will continue to be available for individuals, based on an assessment of their needs and their own personal choices."