3 days ago
Locals slam proposals to close Renfrewshire Disability Resource Centre
The service, which provides support for people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments, is one of several services that have been earmarked for closure by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
It was recently reported that Renfrewshire HSCP has put wide-ranging cuts to health and social care services back on the table in an attempt to plug a multi-million-pound funding gap for the financial year 2026/27.
Neil Bibby MSP, who led the meeting, was joined by Labour councillors Iain McMillan, Ben Smith, Carolann Davidson and Janis McDonald to hear from service users and their families about how the proposals have affected their mental and physical health.
Bibby expressed concerns about the plans.
He said: "When horrific proposals like this are made, it is crucial that the voices of those they affect are heard.
"That is why it was so valuable – though deeply concerning – to listen first-hand to the views of DRC users and their families regarding the closure of their vital service they face.
"The closure of the DRC proposed by Renfrewshire HSCP is simply unacceptable, and I will continue to do all I can to ensure that it and other essential services are saved from the axe.
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"But given the Scottish Government funds both Renfrewshire Council and the local health board – the bodies that make up the HSCP – ministers in Edinburgh should also set out what, if anything, they are going to do to prevent these proposals from becoming a reality.'
Attendees also highlighted how central the DRC is to their quality of life through the social activities and services it provides, and many told of the huge anxiety its uncertain future has caused.
McMillan added: "It was really humbling to hear first-hand what the DRC and other services that are under threat mean to service users and their families.
"It is a disgrace that the HSCP finds itself in this position.
"The Scottish Government should be ashamed of themselves as they have stood back and allowed this situation to develop."
A spokesperson from Renfrewshire HSCP said: "We understand this is a worrying time for many, particularly unpaid carers and families who rely on day services and disability support.
"We would like to make it clear that the proposal under consideration is not to close the DRC service, but to relocate it – allowing us to continue delivering services from fewer buildings across our portfolio.
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"This proposal also forms part of a wider review of services, including Learning Disability and Physical Disability Day Services, Older Adult Day Services, and Learning Disability Respite.
"Like many public sector organisations across Scotland, the HSCP is facing significant financial pressures.
"In response, the Integration Joint Board (IJB) is exploring ways to review and redesign services to ensure they remain sustainable while continuing to support those most in need.
"In December 2024, IJB voting members considered approximately £19 million of potential savings across HSCP service areas.
"This reflected their decision to identify savings of 10 per cent across all influenceable service budgets, wherever possible.
"They agreed that £13.8m of this amount should be managed over the next three financial years through the redesign of internal service models.
"The IJB also agreed that the proposals identified to make up the remaining shortfall should be further developed, with feedback gathered through public and staff engagement.
"This period of engagement, which ran throughout June and into July 2025, offered people opportunities to share their views through face-to-face and online events, as well as through questionnaires.
"It was designed to gather feedback from individuals, families, carers, and staff on how any proposed changes might affect people.
"The feedback collected through these activities is currently being reviewed and will inform the updated impact assessments, which will be published ahead of the next IJB meeting on Friday, September 19, 2025.
"We want to emphasise that no decisions will be made on any of the proposals before this meeting."
