I WAS disappointed, but not surprised, at the decision last week of the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCG) to confirm their intention to close Hillcote respite care home in June this year. Hillcote has been one of the jewels in the crown of health care which we have enjoyed in Salisbury for over 30 years.

Many parents of my generation will agree that we were indeed fortunate to have this respite service for our learning disabled (LD) children in South Wiltshire. There are not only very good facilities in the house and garden but also excellent experienced staff who supported and looked after the whole family.

So this clinical service has now been totally lost to the South Wiltshire families with LD children.

What is to be in its place? WCCG has decided to appoint specialised early intervention nurses, also specialist foster carers and, finally, the possible choice to use a residential home, Canon’s House, 25 miles away in Devizes.

I do not think the current parents of young LD children realise what is lost and will never be available again locally.

These parents have not been active in challenging WCCG to consider opening a smaller, more economical unit in South Wiltshire.

One must assume that these parents are entirely satisfied with their current level of respite care as agreed with their child’s social worker.

I have particularly grave concerns for the profoundly LD children – whose needs are great – and their parents who are remarkable in looking after them.

Respite care is essential for them and Devizes is a considerable distance away – even if there is capacity there. I hope that all these new ways of working, proposed by the WCCG, will succeed in the years ahead.

We will have to wait and see their success in finding and retaining these specialist foster carers who must be competent in looking after these profoundly disabled children.

This is essential to give parents the peace of mind and a little relaxation, which they need.

It does not make good reading that eight in ten family carers are at breaking point, as reported by Mencap National recently.

Dr Angela Scott Chairman of the Save Hillcote Campaign