Islington Council has responded to concerns expressed by users of Ashley Road Mental Health Day Centre and will be proposing at Executive this week, 11 September, to keep Ashley Road as part of its new mental health day services.<br><br>The use of Ashley Road was reviewed earlier this year along with Isledon Road Resource Centre, Lambo and Southwood Smith Day Centre in order to make sure services were relevant and appropriate to users' needs and that building capacity was maximised.<br><br>July's Executive had agreed that a new, modernised day service should be developed on the Despard Road site and that it be refurbished to accommodate a wider range of services and clients. These proposals included the transfer of the services currently provided at Ashley Road to the Despard Road site. This proved unpopoular with service users who particularly valued the atmosphere at Ashley Rd and the garden surrounding the building. Now, the new modernised service will still be going ahead but with the Asheley Road building and garden very much part of it.<br><br>This week's report will outline how Ashley Road will be retained as an integral part of the new service. Outcome, the specialist day service for lesbian and gay service users will be able to continue running from the Ashley Road site.<br><br>Cllr John Gilbert, Islington Council's Executive Member for Heath and Adult Social Services said:<br><br>"Mental Health Day Services are used by some of the borough's most vulnerable residents so it has been vital to get this change managed correctly.<br><br>"While we must periodically review services to make sure they are relevant and deliver value for money we are also sensitive to users' views and have modified these proposals to accommodate users' wishes.<br><br>"Our challenge has been to make sure popular services are located in accessible places and are large enough to cope with demand.<br><br>"Users, partners and staff have expressed strong opinions about the range of activities they want to see on site and we have listened."<br><br>ENDS <br><br>For more information please call Charles Dean on 020 7527 3224 or Chris Weeks on 020 7527 3032
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009