Faced with the proposed closure of the specialist dementia Day Centre on Central Hill Estate, UNISON members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action.
Lambeth Council has proposed the closure of the day centre and the elimination of 10 posts in the service. They want to move the remaining service to a room in the Aspire building which is inadequate for helping people with dementia who often have complex needs. The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are currently estimated to be 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, but more than a third of people with the condition do not have a diagnosis. The number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Simon Hannah, joint branch secretary of Lambeth UNISON was clear “Lambeth Council have run down this service to save money which is a crying shame for the people of Lambeth. It is the only dedicated day centre for people with dementia where their carers can also get some respite from 24/7 care. Staff are dedicated to helping local residents and want to save jobs and ensure a quality service. Management needs to come to the table with realistic alternatives that ensure the local service is sustainable.
The decision to close the specialist day centre and offer a much more reduced service is driven by savings of only £350,000 and the results of a ‘pilot scheme’ that saw most people referred to other services, effectively running down the service on Central Hill Estate. This has meant some people with dementia and their carers not getting the level of care that they would have otherwise received.”
The vote was 100% for strike action on a 90% turn out. This means staff will be on picket lines at the Council’s only Dementia facility.
The first date of strike action is 14th May.
