Day centre closure is not fair

Firstly may I congratulate Coverage Care and the staff on the running of their Briarfields day centre, it has been a lifeline for many elderly people past and present and for their carers.

I include my mother amongst these. She suffered a stroke and their expert day care has given her a better outlook on life.

As her carer I get no help from this Government. I run a small business and have been able to carry on. Without her day care centre place, I would have to go on carer's allowance, a joke at £75 a week.

Now for the bad news, a meeting was arranged by social services recently at Briarfields for people attending the day centre and their carers. We where told that due to lack of Government funding, there would have to be cutbacks. They could no longer fund the day centre and it would have to close.

Before the meeting started I realised something bad was coming up because they asked if anyone represented the press and if they did could they please leave.

The scenes which followed the disclosure that the day centre was to close were terrible - most of the elderly people where in tears.

The meeting came to a quick end when a question was asked about the funding of immigrants.

I just wonder how it is possible to treat elderly people like this.

If you feel as strongly about the closure of Briarfields day centre as I do, please write to our MP Daniel Kawczynski, at Unit One, Benbow Business Park, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury SY1 3FA and ask for his support.

Name and address supplied