Fresh fears over replacement care for Hollins View
Excitement of Strictly dance
CAMPAIGNERS for Hollins View care home complain families are still in the dark over what will happen when the centre closes.
Cheshire East decided to close Hollins View, which provides respite care for patients with dementia and other longterm conditions and give their families a break.
This was despite a hardfought campaign by the Express and a campaign group to keep the centre open.
It will close at the end of the year, but the campaigners say the council has still not answered questions over where care will be provided instead.
The Express has asked the authority to guarantee that everyone from Macclesfield who needs care will be able to access it in the town, but the council has refused to confirm this will be the case.
Morven
Sowerbutts, from the campaign group, said: “We are very concerned because Cheshire East has still not come up with a list of places in Macclesfield for people to receive care.
“Carers have had a letter to say that Hollins View is closing on Janu- ary 2, but officers are still not sharing information about where frail and ill individuals will go for respite care, how such care will be arranged and how much it will cost.
“We have heard of one person who usually goes to Hollins View for Christmas who does not know what to do.
“Another carer told us she cannot book a break until she knows where her relative might be cared for and whether whatever is offered is suitable for her relative who has dementia.
“We will keep up our fight and bring the issues to the attention of the community. We want answers from Cheshire East but we’re not getting them.”
Councillors on the health and adult social care scrutiny committee backed an earlier decision to close the respite care centre after the Labour group asked for the decision to be reviewed.
Cheshire East has said respite care would instead be provided by the independent sector, including in private care homes.
The campaign group suggests there are not enough beds at care homes in Macclesfield and that the homes will charge more for care.
The group, with local Labour councillors, are looking at ways to challenge the closure again.
Cheshire East has previously said that everyone who needs care will have access to it, but declined to issue any further response to the campaigner’s latest concerns.
‘We are very concerned’
THE glitz of Strictly Come Dancing landed in Macclesfield when two dancers from the show made a special appearance.
Mykita Dancing School was excited to welcome Neil Jones and Ekaterina Sokolova, who have choreographed dances for the popular TV show. The pair gave a workshop and performance to launch the new dance season and unveil Mykita’s new dance shop ‘The Bling Room’.
The school, on Snape Road, Hurdsfield, has been going for more than 35 years specialising in ballroom and latin dancing and is owned and run by Michael King.
Ali King, from the school, said: “Neil and Katya were part of the Britain’s Got Talent group Kings and Queens and have helped choreograph the professional dances on Strictly Come Dancing.
“For the first time we opened our doors to dancers all over the country to be part of the inspiring workshop.
“Mykita members donned their suits and evening dresses for the gala ball where Neil and Katya officially opened The Bling Room and performed a stunning showcase of dances.
“It was a fantastic day and a great start to the new dancing season.”