Inverclyde Carers' Centre users devastated by contract blow

People who have relied on Inverclyde Carers' Centre for the last 20 years years say they are heartbroken at the controversial decision to hand its work to a Glasgow-based social enterprise, taking away 70 per cent of its funding and leaving a huge question mark over its existence.

The Tele revealed earlier this month how the centre in Cathcart Street and its staff are facing an uncertain future due to the shock move, which came despite its strong track record helping 3,000 individuals who look after loved ones.

Health and social care chiefs say they are working to make sure there is a smooth handover, but carers say the advice and support provided by the centre will be irreplaceable and they don't understand why it has lost out.

Kathryn McKnight from Greenock lost her husband Michael, who had early onset dementia, last year and says she couldn't have coped without the ICC.

The 62-year-old told the Tele: "The people I come here with and the staff feel like family. I have been made to feel so welcome. I still come here to the cafe every week. The carers' centre gave me great support throughout Michael's illness, even over the phone during Covid.

"He died of pneumonia and I'd given up work to care for him. The carers' centre means the world to me. I don't know what we would all do without it. I am really worried about the staff, we all are. I just can't imagine not being able to come here anymore."

Senior citizen William McShane and his wife Rita cared for their son Brian, a footballer, who had health problems for 18 years, and now want to pay the centre back for all the help they have received.

William, 80, said: "They have helped us so much over the years. We want to do whatever we can to help and support them."

Centre bosses have said that financial requirements built into the Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership tender process meant that there was no chance they could have been successful. After the value of the contract was increased by £9,000, the centre automatically fell outside the criteria required, based on the annual value of the contract as part of turnover.

They have pledged to try and keep going in some form but will be left with less than a third of their funding. The tender process and result of it has meanwhile left centre users hugely upset.

Martha Crawford, 73, from John Galt House, cared for her late husband for 20 years. She goes to the centre's cafe with her friend Ellen Diamond, 66, who looked after her son, who had a serious mental health illness.

Martha said: "This is the best team we have ever had here. I can't believe we could lose this service."

Catherine Reay, 75, who was a carer for her husband George for many years, told the Tele: "I think it is rotten what has happened to them. I am very worried about the staff."

Carers' centre board member Christina Boyd is also outraged at the situation.

She said: "I cared for my mother for many years and the centre was very helpful. They then asked me if I would come on to the board. The way the tender was set up, it was impossible for the carers' centre to win it. I just don't understand it.

"The board are meeting to discuss where we go from here, but we just don't know what will happen. The future is uncertain."

Inverclyde HSCP bosses have thanked the centre for doing a 'fantastic job' over the last two decades and thanked them, but added that they were bound by public procurement regulations to ensure 'openness, fairness and transparency when awarding contracts'.

Their spokesperson said: “As a result an open tender process was carried out late last year, and the outcome of the process determined a new successful bidder to deliver this service provision.

“The new contract will commence on 1 May 2024 and staff from the current provider may be transferred to the new provider.

“We are working with both providers to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of service for service users.”