Latest Articles

1ST EMAIL RECEIVED FROM DEPT OF HEALTH

Date added: Friday 13th August 2010

Our ref: DE00000519910 - Honeylands Chldren's Centre in Exeter

Dear Mr Godfrey,

Thank you for your email of 26 May to David Cameron about Honeylands Chldren's Centre in Exeter. As the issues raised are health-related, a copy of your email has been passed to the Department of Health and I have been asked to reply.

I would like to thank you for your kind words about Mr Cameron's son.

Turning to Honeyland Children's Centre, as you are aware, proposals for a new facility for children with additional needs and their families are being put forward by Devon County Council and the NHS, in conjunction with the Vranch House charity in Exeter.

Building on the excellent work and reputation of the services at Honeylands, a new specialist child assessment centre is planned on the existing Honeylands site and initial site preparation is due to commence this month. The centre will be purpose-built, providing multidisciplinary teams offering a central specialist service. I understand, as you mention in your correspondence, this development is supported by £1million donation from a private benefactor via Honeylands League of Friends. The new Centre is due to open no later than April 2011.

It is also proposed that three centres of excellence are established. two of which, in Awliscombe and Tiverton, have already been refurbished and preparations are in place to upgrade the facilities at the third centre in Exeter . These will provide more specialist residential services designed to meet the needs of children and young people and develop a more focused approach to short breaks. Each centre will in the future support children from the age of four to 18 years, which is wider than is currently offered, and will provide high quality services with specialist staff. In addition, I am advised that through redistribution of staff presently supporting four facilities, it will be possible to fully staff each of these three centres and provide an increase of more than 500 available bed nights bringing greater overall flexibility for families.

Unfortunately, this will mean that the respite service at Honeylands would discontinue and it is proposed that the families who presently use the service of Honeylands would go to Meadowbank in Exeter. However, families living in Exeter will receive free specialist door-to-door transport for their children.

NHS Devon is aware of the concerns the proposed changes are causing families and I have been assured that the proposals to consolidate these services will continue to be discussed through key workers and meetings with individual families. Following individual discussions, meetings with parent groups will be held. The Children and Young Person's Scrutiny Committee has requested a report on this at their next meeting in September 2010. Feedback and concerns raised will also be part of the considerations by NHS Devon Board regarding the proposals. I have been assured that NHS Devon aims to ensure each child receives the best possible future service and any changes will be based firmly on a thorough assessment of each child's needs.

I hope that you will continue to engage with the local NHS on the issues you raise.

And finally, on your request for the Prime Minister to receive a delegation of parents and members of the League of Friends, as I am sure you will understand, the Prime Minister is unable to take up your kind offer due to diary commitments.

Yours sincerely,

Bilal Ghafoor
Customer Service Centre
Department of Health