The five-bed building in Bath is the only respite care facility for adults with complex care needs in the region
John Wimperis
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England
Parents of adults with severe learning disabilities have warned their lives “won’t function” if plans go ahead to shut down a vital care service.
Newton House in Bath, Somerset, provides respite care by offering brief stays to people with complex needs and disabilities, allowing their full-time carers a break.
Dimensions, which runs the service, has said the facility is “unviable” at 60% capacity and plans to shut it down and turn the building into a residential care home.
The closure was announced for the end of January, but has now been “paused” until alternate arrangements can be found for the 22 families who rely on the service.
Wendy Lucas’s daughter Rhiannon is 28 years old and has spent two nights a week at the facility for the past 10 years.
Rhiannon has post-meningitis hydrocephalus, which causes an accumulation of fluid within the cranial cavity, as well as reconstructed hip joints.
Addressing Bath and North East Somerset Council’s scrutiny panel on adult services on 13 January, she said: “We actually need respite care so we can sleep. We only sleep fully two nights a week.
“If we lose this short-term respite facility, many families will not be able to continue to look after their loved ones at home any longer.
“Without Newton House, our lives won’t function,” she explained.
Dimensions is an independent registered housing association and is not run by the council.
However, the authority is under a statutory duty to assess and provide for people’s care needs – including providing respite care where required.
Richard Franklin (R) says there “was no warning and no contact” about the closure
Upon learning of the proposed closure, Richard Franklin from Keynsham launched an online petition to save the facility, which has now been signed by more than 2,400 people.
His 28-year-old stepson Ryan has an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes – meaning he is small, non-verbal, requires medication and a very high level of care.
“As we get older, we find it physically harder to handle Ryan as he gets bigger,” Mr Franklin explained.
“[Newton House] is a total lifeline that just gives us a break. They should hang their heads in shame with how this has been handled.”
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Dimensions had informed the council of their plans a year ago, but this message was reportedly not passed on to adult social services.
Though Ryan is non-verbal, Mr Franklin says he makes “excited sounds” when they arrive at Newton House
Labour councillor Lesley Mansell told the meeting: “I am absolutely shocked and horrified at the information that we have been given today from the members of the public.”
She warned that the council could be in breach of equalities legislation by announcing the closure without having completed equalities impact assessments and finding alternative placements.
Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for adult services, confirmed the closure had been paused so this process could be carried out.
She added: “I want to reassure families that we will work with them to find the appropriate respite services to meet their individual needs.”
Get in touch
Tell us which stories we should cover in Somerset
Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook, external and X, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
