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20 March, 2010
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Published: 20 March, 2008
Sir – As parents of a 36-year-old man with severe learning difficulties, who attends the Isobel Rhind Centre in Invergordon, we were astonished and appalled to read in the Northern Times of 14th March that the role of the Beachview Respite Care Centre in Brora is to change to that of a long-stay residential unit. The council's head of operations (community care) stated that respite care facilities would still be available at units in Wick and Thurso. Beachview is used heavily by those who attend the Isobel Rhind Centre, the catchment area of which is Ross-shire. It is quite incredible that any official working in a "caring" area could believe that respite care in Wick or Thurso could be regarded as an acceptable alternative, subjecting clients and carers to such a long journey, especially in winter or in time of emergency. Perhaps global warning is supposed to solve the problem of the Ord of Caithness! A councillor is reported as having sought assurances that there would be full consultation with all interested parties. Consultation? Surely useful consultation occurs before a decision is taken. Otherwise it is merely an ineffectual sop to interested parties. Despite having used Beachview since its inception, we were not consulted nor was any other client family of which we are aware. Over the past few months we have been aware of impending changes, but understood them to relate to the day-to-day administration of the centre. Perhaps we parents, being the major beneficiaries of the respite care service, are only considered worthy of consultation once the decision has been taken. Information gleaned from informed sources suggests a fait accompli. Respite care is very important to those of us who spend our lives dealing with the daily needs of our children. It allows us for brief periods each year to live a life that others take for granted once their children are teenagers – one minor example being going out for an evening without arranging another carer days or weeks in advance. While it is laudable to see that the problem of long-term residential care is at long last being addressed, it is totally unbelievable and utterly unacceptable that it should be at the expense of respite care which can scarcely have been deemed to be adequate – an equally vital service that can allow carers to carry on and avoid their children going into residential care. Rosemary and Mike Cubitt, Ryefield, Lamington, Invergordon, Ross-shire. 
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