The decision to close the Holmhurst Day Centre in Dulwich was due to be taken in April and then May ie. now. This day centre centre helps older people with dementia and mental health problems. Not somewhere easilly replicated elsewhere and with patients who don’t cope well with uncertainty or change.Sadly the Labour councillor due to make that decision Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle has had a bereavement. It has been decided due to her mourning to delay the decision by one month apparently costing the council £66,000 each month.
Amazingly the Labour leadership has decided not to step in to make this decision and reduce Dora’s burden at this time of her greatest need.
I’m clear this saving isn’t required – they’re stashing away an extra £9M into unallocated contingency this year and each of the following two years. But if they’re going to do it then they should have the grace to do it responsibly and stick to timetables to ensure patients and families have certainty.
So the obvious question is what will be cut by £66,000 x 2 to make up for the two months delay or will they dip into their £9M cash pile?