There are some places that quietly hold a community together – rarely visited by those fortunate enough not to need their services, yet completely indispensable to the lives of those that do. Cedar House, in Spalding, is one such place.
So, it is a profound mistake to close the respite centre which provides care for adults with special and complex needs.
Since the potential closure was reported, I have been contacted by numerous constituents who are concerned about how this will affect them.
These are families that depend on Cedar House for support. In doing so, it offers vulnerable people and their carers – often elderly parents – something precious: rest and the peace of mind, brought by knowing their loved ones are cared for by understanding skilled staff.
Such skills have been cultivated over many years of care-filled relationship building, which is far too personal be transferred elsewhere.
The strong bond between Cedar House staff and the individuals for whom they care is the fruit of patience borne of an intimate knowledge of each person’s unique needs.
For the many that find comfort in routine and familiarity, such trusting relationships are essential to their wellbeing.
Lincolnshire County Council’s proposal to relocate these vulnerable individuals into less specialised residential or nursing homes has brought doubt and fear.
Many of the Cedar House residents are considerably younger than those settings are typically designed to accommodate and the specialist care they require just cannot be replicated other environments.
The proposed one-size-fits-all solution underestimates how unsettling this change will be for all those forced to accept it.
Certainly, it was inappropriate that many of my constituents learned of these proposals, not through formal channels of consultation, but via local newspapers.
Such impactful proposals surely warranted a more sensitive approach.
The positive impact that Cedar House has on both Spalding and surrounding area is clear.
So, having written to the county council, on behalf of constituents, to object to their proposals, I was pleased to learn that they had extended the current contract to allow time to review the closure.
This extra time provides an opportunity for the council to reverse their plans and continue to serve the needs of my constituents.
In strongly supporting Cedar House’s continuation, I am writing here to request that all those that share my views and back my campaign for Cedar House, to contact me at the address below.
RT Hon Sir John Hayes CBE MP
South Holland and the Deepings
