• AS a concerned constituent and active citizen I feel it is my duty to report on serious allegations made to me by two friends, working within Camden social services and within a local NHS trust: allegations that there has been a organised and deliberate degradation of the Netherwood Day Centre – a purpose built specialist centre for people with dementia.

A few weeks ago, I asked a friend – a dementia specialist in a local NHS trust, to respond to Camden Council’s consultation on the proposed closure of Netherwood.

They agreed and, without asking, this person informed me “we have been trying to make referrals into Netherwood for over a year, they (social services) have informed us that they ‘cannot take referrals as the centre is oversubscribed and a waiting list is in operation’.”

The reason for the proposal came as a shock to this NHS worker, as they have falsely been told that the Netherwood centre was oversubscribed, not underused – the underuse forming the basis for the proposal and a key argument used by the council to legitimise closure of the centre.

This NHS worker highly rates Netherwood as a unique world-class service.

Another social worker, again a friend, who I contacted to ask about her experience of Netherwood, alleged that before the consultation had even begun, they, the social workers within Camden, were told that Netherwood was definitely closing and adult social services were to be amalgamated and that they must actively block referrals.

Neither worker wants to go on record for fear of losing their jobs and they fear whistle-blowers are not protected.

If what they say is true, and I’ve no reason to disbelieve them, there are dirty tricks afoot clearly.
And there is no transparency. Time and again when asked about the problem regarding referrals to Netherwood, with people struggling to get a place at the centre, Cllr Georgia Gould publicly dismissed concerns.

Would other public sector workers please speak out?

If true how can vulnerable people be deliberately denied a service that is much needed for them and their carers. On this basis an investigation should begin immediately and the proposal put on hold.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED