"Worried that unsupported groups will loose members"

I was advised yesterday that following a meeting it has been decided that the REHAB group which run the various groups and one to ones is to be amalgamated into the FACT team.

Although my one to one session is to be continued on a Monday, the group sessions on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are to lose REHAB presence.

I have been told that if these groups are to continue, the service users will have to look after themselves and that support is to cease in 8 weeks’ time.

I am concerned that the reduced level of support from staff will have a negative effect on the groups. Why only last week at the Thursday Ten Pin Bowling group I had to witness a service user having a panic attack when the support staff was late arriving. I did not know what to do to console the service user so telephoned for help. The support staff said sorry for being late and advised me to tell the service user to take some deep breaths. By the time the staff arrived the service user was feeling much better and went on to take part in the bowling.

In my opinion staff presence at group functions is a vital aid to the groups success and that without support I fear that the groups will eventually decline in numbers and ultimately cease to exist. I say this through experience with a former supported group I used to attend regularly and was well attended but since the support stopped there are only 2 or sometimes 3 attendees.

I hope you will forward my concerns to the relevant parties and would hope for a favourable outcome even though I realise this is again a cost cutting exercise.