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Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents Plaid Cymru, is one of four regional Senedd Members serving the South Wales East region.
I may only be four months into my tenure as a Member of the Senedd but I don’t think I will have many conversations as harrowing as the one I had last week with the parent of a disabled adult. Mark Robotham is father to Michael, a profoundly disabled man who, while living at home with his family, has been receiving regular care at his local day centre during daily visits for most of his adult life. Mr and Mrs Robotham are now facing a heart-breaking decision whether to put Michael into residential care after the Labour-run Caerphilly County Borough Council slashed day centre provision. As Mr Robotham told me, they do not know how much longer he and his wife can cope. If this were to happen, it would be the most heart-breaking decision the family would have to make – as it would be for anyone in that position.
The reason why the Robothams are struggling is that day centre provision for Michael has been reduced from 30 hours a week to just six. Some families have been reduced to zero hours of day centre care. It is hard to overstate the impact this is having on the affected families. Routines have been disrupted and respite – both for the disabled adults and their families – has been brutally reduced. Putting the ethics of the decision to one side, the financial implications of the changes make little sense as the local authority may well end up having to spend much more on providing residential care – which is very costly – than they would on day centre respite care if families like the Robothams decide they cannot go on any longer.
What is being done about it? It is great to see that hundreds of parents of disabled adults have swung into action to organise a campaign to oppose the local authority. The Plaid Cymru group on the council has also called for a moratorium on changes to day care services and a return to a full hours’ service at day centres, pending an extensive review.
The text of the Plaid Cymru motion reads: “We are concerned that the existing consultation exercise has not gone out to all carers and those vulnerable individuals they care for.
“The consultation seems to be merely window dressing with social services officers determined to drive through changes, whatever the short and long-term impact on carers and their family members.
“A better system of communication with service users and families is badly needed so that they are a proper part of the decision-making process.
“In the meantime, there should be a moratorium on any changes taking place for at least 12 months with a final decision on any changes being considered by the full council.”
I also put the Labour First Minister on the spot during a plenary session. I know from feedback of people affected by this, that the answer I received from Mr Drakeford was less than satisfactory. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that Labour Cabinet Members will see sense on the proposed changes and avoid families from going through any further turmoil and upheaval. To plough ahead with reduced respite would be cruel, insensitive and draconian.
The American novelist Pearl Buck once wrote: “……for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.”
On the basis of their policies concerning disabled adults, the Labour-led local authority are, so far, failing that test.
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