Netherwood Day Centre users face a hike to Kentish Town to receive their care

A day care centre for elderly people suffering from dementia could close under plans to slash �16million from adult social care spending in Camden over the next four years

Camden Council is consulting on plans to shut the Netherwood Day Centre, in Netherwood Road, Kilburn, and merge its services with Raglan House, two miles away in Kentish Town.

Netherwood, which is run by Camden and Islington Foundation Trust, provides day care facilities for 25 dementia sufferers and run a carer’s support group.

But all three ward councillors say they are ‘extremely concerned’ about the threatened closure.

Cllr Mike Katz (Lab: Kilburn ward), said: “We are extremely concerned that the plans will leave provision in our ward, and indeed, the whole north and west of the borough, with insufficient provision and have been asking the council to think again on this.

“It seems that Netherwood Street is a much more suitable facility for elderly people with serious dementia and other mental health care needs, in terms of the centre’s building and grounds, and we know that its users and their carers benefit enormously from the service it offers.”

A Camden Council spokesman acknowledged that there were ‘concerns’ that the closure will be ‘unsettling for service users and their families’, but claimed both centres are underused, and that by combining services it will be able to offer people a more personalised care.

If the closure goes ahead, Raglan House’s opening hours will be extended and extra sessions will be put on.

Everyone currently attending Netherwood will be assessed by an adult social care expert, and those judged to have ‘advanced need’ will be transferred to Raglan House.

Those considered to have low needs could go to the Kingsgate Resource Centre in Kilburn.

The council estimates the closure will save it �250,000, although there are no plans to sell the building and no redundancies have been announced.

Mel Wright, coordinator at Kilburn Older Voice’s Exchange, said: “We are concerned about older people with mental health problems, and their carers, having to travel further.”

A council spokesman said: “Due to the under-use of both centres in recent years, and the extended opening hours of the proposed new service, we are confident that a single site can accommodate all people who meet the eligibility criteria for specialist dementia care service.”

The adult social care consultation finished on March 16.

Are you affected by the proposed closure? Contact kate.ferguson@archant.co.uk