People with learning disabilities are facing a “postcode lottery” as vital day services in some areas have been closed without consultation, according to a charity.

Emma Walker, CEO of Camphill, which offers social, cultural and work opportunities to people with learning disabilities and other support needs, says the disruptions are causing “huge mental distress”.

Families in some areas were told back in September that services would be closing and they have not opened since, and Emma Walker told healthandcare.scot their questions “aren’t being answered”.

It comes despite the Health Secretary giving services the go-ahead in January to remain open where they were essential for wellbeing.

One parent, whose adult son Mark lives in a Camphill residential care setting but would normally spend weekdays at a gardening project, said his council took the decision to stop all day services for service users in residential care with “no consultation at all”.

“They didn’t communicate with us, they just did it,” he said.

He described the postcode lottery his son Mark is facing:

“His best friend since they were 12 is funded by [a different] council, and he’s still getting to go [to the gardening project]. They stay in the same house. He’s still allowed to go, but Mark’s not.

“Mark’s going and trying to pack his lunchbox, he’s looking at his working clothes and they’re having to say no you can’t go, which is upsetting for him.

“He doesn’t understand why he can’t go but his mate can. I’d be in the same boat if I was him.”

There are 11 Camphill communities across Scotland supporting more than 600 people, with most people using the charity’s day services work placements, often outdoors in gardens or farms.

In mid-January Health Secretary Jeane Freeman wrote to councils to say that day services could remain in place where they were safe

‘Adult day centres can continue to operate, where they are essential for people’s wellbeing – i.e. where participants’ or carers’ health (including their mental health) and wellbeing would be significant impacted by non-attendance,’ her letter states.

But Camphill’s Emma Walker believes the message is not getting through.

It’s a postcode lottery,” she said. “You need to make sure that everybody’s rights are protected.

“In the first instance the biggest impact is that sense of loss for the person in question.

“They go from getting out in the community, outdoors, working with their team, having those relationships – they’re gone.

“They’re back at home again after a lockdown of three or four months, often in a very pressurised environment at home.

“Some of the people we work with have high additional needs, they’re active 24 hours a day, so there’s no respite for their family.

“Day services have been precarious for quite some time now. There’s a real sense that some local authorities – not all, we do have some positive experiences as well – are getting to the point where the pandemic is almost a smokescreen for cuts to day services.”

Mark’s dad was told by the local council in September that people living in 24/7 specialist accommodation ‘will not be returning to day services’.

The notification from the council says this will be the case ‘over the next 12 months at least’.

It adds: ‘We are aware service users are missing social contact with their peers and are working day services and advocacy groups to look at ways we can support people ‘virtually’ to maintain their friendships.’

But Mark’s dad worries about the effect the disruption is having:

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s not unhappy. But it is telling on him…

“He’s got a history of getting mental health problems when his routine is affected…He’s not sleeping and is unsettled, it affects other service users and staff.

He added: “It’s concerning. Obviously, I think about Mark all the time.”

“We can only fight as hard as we can, but we just don’t seem to be getting anywhere.”

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