Why do we exist?

On 14th March 2019, Scottish Borders Council's Programme Manager (Day Services Review), Michael Curran, held a meeting with Teviot Day Service attendees & their relatives/carers & announced proposals to decommission Day Services throughout the Borders & enter in a period of engagement with attendees to look at alternatives. The justification for this move was two-fold:

• A decrease in the number of people attending day services.
• A pilot exercise conducted in Eyemouth (Berwickshire) relating to 4 people attending a local day centre.

At this meeting, Mr Curran publicly stated that no further referrals to Teviot Day Service would happen in the interim period (a statement which was later retracted) & also stated that the 'transformation programme' was not about money.

Since that day, we created the Teviot Day Service Support Group which comprises relatives & carers of those who attend Teviot Day Service. We oppose & are campaigning against the decommissioning of any Day Services as we believe these are not only absolutely necessary but provide a service which is a statutory Health & Social Services obligation on Scottish Borders Council. Our meetings are well attended by relatives & carers, local Councillors & representatives from third sector support organisations Borders Carers Center & Borders Care Voice.

The majority of those who attend Teviot Day Service are very elderly & suffer from forms of Dementia. They have significant care requirements & the relatives & carers who look after them also require, & are entitled to, respite.

It is our opinion that the aspects of Scottish Borders Council's 'Re-imagining Day Services' project which aim to decommission Day Services are ill-conceived, lack provable evidence & have been appallingly poorly executed to date in terms of consultation & communication with relatives & carers. We are willing & have attempted to work with Scottish Borders Council to improve Day Service provision, not abandon those in the very twilight years of their life when they really need care nor deny their carers the right to some respite. It is also our duty as a Support Group to ensure Scottish Borders Council employees managing the 'Re-imagining Day Services' project do so in accordance with their legal & statutory obligations & are held accountable for their actions & decisions.