Respite4Riven: Mother refused respite care for her daughter

This was Riven Vincent’s message on Mumsnet yesterday:

“Have asked ss (social services) to take dd (dear daughter) into care. We get 6 hours respite a week. They have refused a link family. They have refused extra respite. I cant cope.

I don’t know how to email Dave now he’s PM or I bloody would. I have called local MP Jack Lopresti too. I dont know what else to do.”

Riven Vincent’s distress over care for Celyn, her 6-year-old daughter with severe cerebral palsy, is what thousands of parents fear they will have to face as cuts to respite care begin to bite.

In the bitterest of ironies, Riven was one of the Mumsnet mums David Cameron met during his election campaign and he assured her that care for disabled children would be safe.

But Downing Street said yesterday that this was a “local council issue”.

David Congdon, head of campaigns and policy at Mencap, said: “As local authorities tighten belts we expect to hear more and more concerns from parents about respite care. Families and carers love the people they care for. They care for them willingly, but they need help to do so.

“Given that this money is available, there is no justification for cutting these services.”

Is respite care under threat in your area? Let us know what you think.