SIR: I refer to the letter from Alan and Pat Moss, Wigan Road, Bolton (January 24 ) regarding the future of Bolton's High Dependency Units.

I am pleased that the my attendance and that of my colleagues at a meeting at Merton High Dependency Unit in Deane was appreciated. However, I must take issue with the suggestion that the proposals for the future of the Units arise from a management power struggle. Senior Officers in Social Services are required at all times to consider ways in which services can be improved. In that context, it has been entirely appropriate to put forward proposals for consultation on the future of the High Dependency Units.

As previously stated, these proposals envisage a gradual move to a service which will include: a resident warden; back-up support from Careline and a Home Care Service which can be available 24 hours a day and not just in the daytime, as suggested in the published letter.

It has also been previously stated that it is hoped that any savings arising from any such changes could be put back in to further improve services.

The consultation on these proposals is important and there is understandably concern when changes are proposed that affect vulnerable people and their families. This, of course, is always made more difficult when there continues to be misinformation about what is actually being proposed.

Senior managers will be gathering together the numerous responses to the consultation and will, in the light of the range of views, make proposals to the Social Services Committee on February 18, 1998 re the best way forward for the High Dependency Units.

As in all situations, this will be an open and constructive process that will enable the range of views to be carefully considered and in no way reflects either an inappropriate management approach or any hint of a power struggle.

Cllr C Morris

Bolton Metro

Town Hall, Bolton

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