Mental health day centers in six towns owned by Cornwall City Council will close this week as part of wider changes to the way support is provided in the region.
Cornwall Live readers are disgusted to hear that mental health day centers across Cornwall are set to close this week as part of what the council describes as wide-ranging changes to community support. Council-run facilities in Camborne, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, St Austell and Bude closed yesterday (Tuesday, March 31). These were one of ten locations that previously provided day center services.
A new provider was in place to deliver the redesigned service from today (April 1), but has since withdrawn, leaving uncertainty over what will replace support.
Cornwall Council says everyone will have access to support to find alternatives, including an independent review of their care. Meanwhile, NHS-operated hubs in Launceston and Liskeard remain open as hubs for other community services. The future of several other buildings, including Bodmin and Newquay, remains uncertain.
The NHS trust said it had been preparing to take over the service but was then informed that the new provider had withdrawn. We are currently contacting users to ensure they can use the existing support commissioned by the council. The council insists funding has not been cut, saying the aim is to provide more flexible, person-centred care closer to home. However, it does not address claims that providers will withdraw.
Jane Kirkham, Labor MP for Truro and Falmouth, expressed concern about what support would be available to those affected, and urged anyone affected to get in touch and share any alternatives they have on offer.
Commenter Kelly L said: “Adult mental health services in Cornwall are putting people at risk. My adult child has been trying to get help for years and I feel lucky he’s still here.”
Alice agrees. “After witnessing a family in serious danger last night and then watching the NHS fail him within hours, this didn’t surprise me. Cornwall needs more support in all its forms, not less.”
“Already closed, NHS staff and customers still do not know what will replace them. The council was only told last week that a new provider has withdrawn, so staff have no referrals and customers have no services. “Customers at Trell Court in Bodmin only received a letter on Friday telling them to sign up for adult social care within five days or risk receiving no support at all,” Sammy D wrote.
Emma M writes: “As a carer, I see and hear first-hand how this is impacting people’s mental health. This cannot be ignored or dismissed, these services are truly needed. At the same time, council tax continues to rise, including for adult social care. So where is all that money going?”
Alice R agrees: “This has been done without any formal explanation, contingency plans or involvement from us as service users. Over the last year, consultations have been held with both staff and service users and we have confirmed the important support and positive impact these services provide. The results appear to have been completely ignored and the words twisted. This behavior is completely disrespectful, inconsiderate and extremely short-sighted for everyone on the receiving end. It’s appalling behavior for a service that claims to put people’s mental health first.”
Petra L added: “This is really sad news. Services are already struggling due to staff shortages, low wages for frontline workers and cuts to NHS funding. At the same time, mental health is also worsening due to precarious work, high rents and limited employment opportunities. This will put further pressure on both statutory and non-statutory services to respond to complex needs that they are not equipped to meet.”
Mitch R. said: “To be clear, none of us said the building was inappropriate and we wanted it to remain open. The building was closed with almost no notice, which is probably why it caused so much distress and backlash. We were left with nothing to replace this vital support and we were treated with total inconsideration and even ignored the very services we asked for. This is a disgrace.”
Andrea R agrees: “This is a terrible decision. Mental health support in Curnow has been in an abysmal state for many years. We need more support, not less.”
“The more I read about these ‘trusts,’ the more I think they can never be trusted. Everything surrounding health should not be left in the hands of private entities that can easily come and go,” Red believes.
Justice4cornwall warns: “Watch as A and E departments become overwhelmed as a result of these closures. With vital community support gone, people will have nowhere else to turn and more people will fall into crisis and seek emergency treatment. This will only put further strain on already strained services.”
What do you think about these closures and the lack of clear replacements? Please share your comments in the comments section below.
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