MP Brown tells council to sort out Dunmuir Park problems

Friday, June 23, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

A DUMFRIES and Galloway MP has demanded that the council step-up their game on talks over Dunmuir Park saying that their recent effort “really isn’t good enough”.

Russell Brown, Labour MP for Dumfries and Galloway is demanding that Dumfries and Galloway Council consult local people, and particularly the friends and family of Dunmuir Park residents, more robustly over plans to close the building and relocate the residents.

The MP has made the call following complaints from the Dunmuir Park Protest Group that a recent council consultation exercise on learning disability services in Castle Douglas was poorly publicised and called at too short notice. Russell Brown has written to the Chair of the Education and Community Services Committee at the council emphasising the need for “full and frank” consultation.

Russell Brown said,

“There is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with in relation to Dunmuir Park.

Moyra helps others

Friday, June 23, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

A GENEROUS Castle Douglas woman who suffered a stroke as a baby has raised over £200 to help other stroke victims.

Moyra Dodds, aged 33, who suffered a stroke when she was just year old and has donated the money to Castle Douglas day hospital.

She raised the money as part of the Caledonian Award which helps give people with special needs opportunity to achieve their potential and increase their independence.

Having already completed the silver and bronze awards, Moyra, who is a respite user at Dunmuir Park, will soon set foot on an aeroplane for the first time as part of the scheme.

In order to raise the money, Moyra, with the help of her mother Margaret Dodds, carer Elaine Wilson and other friends and family, held two coffee evenings at her home where she sold beads and tablet and other goodies.

Officials at Dumfries and Galloway council are calling for calm over plans to change care provision for adults with learning disabilities in Castle Douglas.

Thursday, June 15, 2006 - West Sound Radio News (Visit Web Site)

Officials at Dumfries and Galloway council are calling for calm over plans to change care provision for adults with learning disabilities in Castle Douglas.

The latest row in the wrangle regarding the future of Dunmuir Park has been centered around the content and time tabling of consultation meetings.

APOLOGETIC COUNCIL SAY CONSULTATION ‘NOT VITAL’

Thursday, June 15, 2006 - South West Sound FM Radio News (Visit Web Site)

Dumfries and Galloway council is apologising to families and friends of Dunmuir Park after failing to give sufficient notice for a council consultation exercise on the learning disability service.

According to a spokesperson it was not a vital meeting and there will be more opportunities for consultation throughout the summer.

DUNMUIR PARK NEW ‘FIASCO’

Thursday, June 15, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

FAMILIES and friends of Dunmuir Park residents have branded a council consultation exercise a ‘fiasco’ after officials failed to invite them.

They knew nothing about the meeting being staged in Castle Douglas Community Centre on Tuesday at 1pm, until they were alerted at short notice by the media.

Headed ‘Consultation on Learning Disability Service,’the meeting was aimed at users of the service, which includes Dunmiur Park residents.

It was proposed that there would be ‘drop-in’ sessions with Dunmuir Park manager Barry Needham and senior manager Philip McCann.

Some friends and relatives attended the meeting but many were unable to at short notice.

The council have apologised for failing to circulate the information, an apology that has been hard for the Dunmuir Park Protest Group (DPPG) to swallow.

A spokesperson from Dumfries and Galloway Council said: ‘Because this was a public meeting we relied on the press releases to publicise this but we apologise for not informing the families.’

It was admitted however that the statement was issued too late last Wednesday for publication in The Galloway News.

The spokesperson continued: ‘This is not a vital meeting.

‘There will be plenty more opportunities for consultation throughout the summer.’

Dunmuir Park Protest Group say that given the lack of reply to their emails and letters this meeting was indeed vital.

A spokesperson said: ‘This is not good enough.

‘This was a crucial meeting for us and, if it was not vital, why where there two managers there?

‘The trust that is left remains low or negative.’

He described Tuesday’s events as a ‘fiasco’ and a ‘farce.’

The group also say that they still have not been informed of future meetings which Dumfries and Galloway Council say will continue over the next few months.

This gaffe comes after a plea for the ‘mismanagement’ of the Dunmuir Park issue to be rectified.

DPPG issued an appeal to senior NHS and council managers asking for the saga to be effectively managed, saying: ‘The Dunmiur Park situation is spiralling out of control damaging all concerned.’

The protest group have also issued an appeal to Health Minster Andy Kerr asking him to act on the ‘maladministration and management failures’ of councillors and officers over the past few months.

Also under fire this week was Chair of the Adult Services Sub Committee, Councillor Jim Dempster for his portrayal of the hostel on a BBC Radio programme.

The DPPG have taken objection to comments they say he made in an interview aired by BBC Radio Scotland last Wednesday in which they claim he referred to the unit as an ‘institution’ where the residents were apparently ‘contained.’

In a letter to John Burns, chief executive of the NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and Phillip Jones, chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council, the DPPG refer to Mr Dempster’s comments as ‘a slur on the work of highly dedicated Dunmuir Park care staff by their employer’.

The statement continues: ‘On air Councillor Dempster admitted that he has not visited Dunmuir Park or discussed the service in person with any service users or residents.

‘Yet he is chair of the Adult Services Sub-Committee and responsible for the February 2 decision and for subsequently emphasising that the decision ‘must stand’.’

Councillor Jim Dempster told the ‘News’ yesterday that he had visited the hostel that morning and was impressed with the staff and service.

He said: ‘Dunmuir Park is a very nice establishment, the staff are very good and the service users clearly enjoy being there.’

He defended the word institution because the residents do not have individual tenancies saying it is not really their house.

Irate over Dunmuir Park issue

Thursday, June 15, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

Sir — I am writing with dismay after listening to the broadcast on Radio Scotland regarding Dunmuir Park Hostel. Councillor Dempster made Dunmuir Park sound like a Victorian work house.

My daughter frequently uses Dunmuir Park for respite and she also couldn’t believe what she was hearing. To suggest that service users have to eat at set times without any choice and told to go to bed at a set time is utter rubbish! Comments like this reflect badly on the staff, something which they certainly don’t deserve as they all do their best and more to meet everyone’s needs and requirements.

If Councillor Dempster, along with his colleagues had taken the time to visit Dunmuir Park before this programme was broadcast perhaps they just might have got their facts right. If Dunmuir Park was the type of place Councillor Dempster is making it out to be then WHY would parents and carers be allowing their young people to stay there. WHY would we all be fighting to keep Dunmuir Park open. WHY would our young people also be wanting to continue living there.

So Councillor Dempster and your colleagues please take the time and visit Dunmuir Park before you say or make any more wrong decisions.

Mrs Margaret Dodds

No consultation over Dunmuir Park

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

CASTLE Douglas councillor Andrew Campbell has expressed his “concern” over the growing uncertainty surrounding Dunmuir Park.

In a letter to Fraser Sanderson, corporate director of education and community services, Councillor Campbell called for him to provide some “much needed stability” for all involved by providing a progress report for the next meeting of the Adult Services Sub-Committee (ASSC).

In the letter, dated June 1, Councillor Campbell said: “Clearly as a council we should be ensuring this issue is handled sensitively and with the full involvement of the people most affected by this decision. I appreciate there requires to be continued discussions with residents and their carers to ensure the individual circumstances of all residents are fully considered.”

Despite this statement, according to the Dunmuir Park Protest Group, none of the families or residents has yet been contacted for consultation, as agreed at the public meeting of April 26.

Councillor Campbell added that he is fully in support of the decision taken to close the hostel.

He adds: “I supported this move with a provision that Dunmuir Park should not close until the right facilities were available. This included the community aspect of Dunmuir Park which I understand the staff are working on so that everyone has the opportunity to meet in a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy each other’s company.”

The Dunmuir Park Protest Group are calling for the decision to close the hostel to be revoked as the only way to remove the uncertainty facing residents and their families.

In a letter to the Galloway News today, the group say that consultation after a decision has been made is impossible.

The group are calling on councillors Maitland, Campbell and Purdie to resign over the management of the issue.

Fresh start for Dunmuir Park?

Thursday, May 18, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

FRIENDS of Dunmuir Park will push for a new paper to be passed to the Adult Services Sub Committee (ASSC) next week.

The paper will call for a ‘fresh start’ outlining recommendations in a bid to progress positively and ‘draw a line under the past’.

At a public meeting on Thursday, May 25, at the Murray Arms Hotel, Gatehouse, from 1.30pm till 4pm, FDP will call for the Learning Disability Management Group (LDMG) to back their recommendations.

Friends will urge the LDMG to compile a paper to be presented to Adult Services Sub Committee at their next meeting.

The Friends are calling for the ASSC to set aside their report and decisions made on February 2 when closure was agreed, among other assurances.

In a letter to LMDG Chris Green of Friends of Dunmuir Park, said: “If agreed then all action in the future will be positive and forward looking by both the families and the officers, being a much needed ‘fresh start’.

“It is a demonstration of good faith that also helps restore badly damaged trust.”

Will councillors support move to revoke Dunmuir Park closure?

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

Sir — Dunmuir Park Hostel, Castle Douglas – more hypocrisy?

Your article on Thursday, May 4 names us and lists the nine bullet points in an email letter we received from Councillor Maitland on April 24, just two days before the public meeting where she and Councillor Purdie were quite properly called to account. What a pity that former Convener, Councillor Campbell was not able to be present and also face his highly critical constituents directly.

We totally agree these are very important questions that still need to be clarified. That’s why they were already highlighted in the 19 points we detailed for all ASSC Councillors to consider in our January written submission before they made the February 2 decision.

We had already replied to Councillor Maitland’s letter asking her to explain why she did not ask these questions then at the proper time, on February 2 in committee? This was when she, as part of the then ruling administration, simply ‘rubber stamped’ the Dunmuir Park closure, without any of the scrutiny she now agrees was necessary.

Councillor Maitland then deliberately chose not to question officers about these aspects of a report that we said was badly flawed. And she refused our reasonable request to simply delay that decision to consult and listen to the families’ concerns.

On March 27 she and Councillors Purdie and Campbell also told us they “had to be guided by the professionals” but she also didn’t show this concern then either. This attitude is now being called ‘institutional arrogance’.

Only Councillor Kathleen Davidson argued for such consultation, yet she was brushed aside. Why then this public pretence of such concern nearly three months later?

We say pretence because as she left that public meeting a few weeks ago, and despite all the evidence then again presented to her first hand, she told a mother it is, “unlikely I will change my mind about closure”.

So it is fair to ask her whether this is just another public relations stunt and more political point scoring? If not, then surely Councillor Maitland and her local colleagues, former convener Campbell and then committee chair Councillor Purdie, will now wish to publicly confirm they all support our request to revoke that decision immediately and so remove the ongoing blight they have put on all the families?

After all, it’s a very simple thing to do and will remedy the mistake all now agree was made on February 2 and previously in 2001/2002. If she and they will not do this immediately and action a real practical ‘apology’, then we invite readers to conclude that what Councillor Maitland has chosen to take from our January submission is exposed as no more than self-serving political hypocrisy; but it’s at the expense of all our learning disabled relatives who rely upon the whole Dunmuir Park model of care.

Chris & Janet Green

Attorneys for Mr D G Emmerson and for the ‘Dunmuir Park families’

Friends suggest new start

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

FRIENDS of Dunmuir Park are calling for a ‘fresh start’ on negotiations about the future of the hostel.

A new paper is hoped to be to be passed to the council’s adult services sub-committee (ASSC) outlining recommendations in a bid to progress positively and ‘draw a line under the past’.

The Friends have passed their list of recommendations to the Learning Disability Management Group (LDMG), formerly social work services, urging them to compile a paper to be presented to ASSC at their next meeting.

In a letter to the LDMG, Chris Green of the Friends who is also financial and welfare attorney of Dunmuir Park resident Donald Emmerson, has requested that the paper “recognises all that has happened at Dunmuir Park but does not attempt to apportion blame or responsibility and looks forward”.

The Friends are calling for the ASSC to set aside their report and decisions made on February 2 when closure was agreed.

They also want the LDMG to agree to the recommendations that those using the Dunmuir Park respite service, which was deemed unsuitable by councillors and officials, can continue to do so with the additional choice to use the new Merrick Road development.

The Friends have also called for existing residents to be considered as a single group with all new respite users referred to Merrick Road.

The recommendations call for an assurance that no residents will be encouraged to move from Dunmuir Park and the facility will be allowed to develop, including the plans for half way houses, until the service amendment has been agreed.

The recommendations add that all involved as users and their families and representatives should now work together with officers to develop the Dunmuir Park care model of the future.

The Friends say the process of development for Dunmuir Park could take four to five years if jointly developed and insist that there should be no pressure during this time.

Such an agreement, they say, would “draw a line” under the past and remove “damaging uncertainty”.

Mr Green adds: “If agreed then all action in the future will be positive and forward looking by both the families and the officers, being a much needed ‘fresh start’.

“It is a demonstration of good faith that also helps restore badly damaged trust.”

The next meeting of LDMG will be held on May 25 at the Murray Arms Hotel from 1.30pm and is open to the public.