THE Chase Day Care Centre in Bordon has been thrown a temporary lifeline, following an announcement that Age Concern will run the centre until March 2009. The future of the Chase Day Care Centre, which offers care to dementia and Alzheimer's sufferers, was thrown into doubt when the Primary Care Trust (PCT) announced it would no longer provide the service. The PCT gave notice in the summer of last year that it would be withdrawing its services on March 31 2008, leaving the county council to secure a new provider. Following a tendering process the county council has announced that Age Concern Hampshire will be the new provider, and that the service will continue to be provided from the same buildings. The new provider will rent the premises from the PCT. A spokesman for HCC said: "Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) both recognise that services for older people with dementia are a high priority and have, and will continue to, work together to ensure people in the area continue to have a service that meets their needs. "Service users and carers had concerns after the PCT announced it would be withdrawing its services but the county council is very pleased to announce that it has secured the service in partnership with Age Concern Hampshire." However, the announcement has failed to reassure some residents. A volunteer at the centre and campaigner to save the centre, Mary Cullen said: "It is great news that the centre has been given a reprieve, but there is still a lot of concern about the future of the Chase. There are still questions to be answered. "We know a new service provider has been found, but we know very little about the 'whys' and 'wherefores' of the change. There are big gaps in the information we have been given – we are facing dead silence." But, the news has been welcomed by many residents, including county councillor and campaigner, Adam Carew. He said: "This is fantastic news. We have all been extremely concerned about the future of Chase Day Centre and I am delighted at the result. The Chase Day Centre is a lifeline for elderly mentally frail patients and their families and we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief that Age Concern have stepped in to save it. "I am told that the Chase will continue as normal with 10 places offered to people with Alzheimers for three days a week. At present the numbers of elderly mentally frail attending have been halved as noone seemed certain as to its future, but I am assured that this will now pick up. "I have asked whether day centre jobs will safe and I gather staff will be offered the option of carrying on. Clearly we only have PCT funding until March 2009 at present but I am assured that the county council will work with the NHS to see funding levels are maintained". The Limes Day Care Centre in Alton has also been given a reprieve by Age Concern Hampshire, but will run to a different schedule. As from April 1, The Limes will be operating on a Tuesday and Thursday each week, rather than Monday, Wednesday and Friday. However, with an increase in the number of placements each day, the same number of people will get the same amount of service they had previously. There are no changes to The Chase Day Centre. Executive member for adult services Felicity Hindson said; "We will be working closely with the PCT and Age Concern to ensure the take-over is smooth for service users, their carers and staff. Every effort will be made to limit disruption for service users and their carers by ensuring that friendship groups remain together where possible. "This is really good news for older people in East Hampshire, the day service they receive is continuing under a very experienced and professional provider in Age Concern Hampshire. I welcome the county council, PCT and voluntary sector all working in partnership together to make sure service users continue to have access to quality services".
