Dismay after Dementia Daycare center denied tender by Blackpool Council

"They didn’t even send anyone to look at our facilities before making their decision" Centre's dismay over the refusal decision.

A dementia daycare centre fears people will miss out on essential respite care after the operators were refused by Blackpool Council to be added to the preferred provider's list.

Embrace Care, which operates on Whitegate Drive, was turned down after Debbie Esther submitted a tender to provide adult day care, with her saying that she was given no explanation as to why. Although she continues to take private referrals, she worries some struggling families may be unaware the help is available.

She said: “A few years ago after watching some very close family and friends go through the pain of dealing with family and loved ones living with dementia, we thought what was needed in the middle of Blackpool, was a day centre.

“This would be a form of respite for those carers looking after loved ones living with dementia on a day-to-day basis, sometimes not having a minute to themselves or even being able to get a full night’s sleep or a bath in peace. They can drop their loved ones here and have the day to themselves, and sometimes this is all it takes to recharge those batteries and give them back the stamina they need to cope.”

Debbie has been providing home daycare services for four years, with her investing £250,000 into the renovation of the Whitegate Drive premises, which encompasses activity areas, a quiet room, outdoor space and eight rooms with the potential for a sensory space to be created. 

In March this year, she applied for a tender but was turned down by the council, who opted instead for Independent Living North West at Warren Manor in Norbreck as its only preferred provider.

• Embrace Homecare on Whitegate Drive has been given a tender by Lancashire County Council despite Blackpool Council refusing it.

Despite Blackpool Council not going to plan. Debbie says that Tender was granted by Lancashire County Council, she said: "Independent Living North West has been established for a long time and I’m sure it is a brilliant provider. But I think there should be a choice, and it is also a long way to travel for people living on this side of Blackpool.

“So for instance in winter, when it gets dark people with dementia start to experience a mood change and it can be frightening to have a long journey home as they might not know where they are. I really feel let down by Blackpool Council because they didn’t even send anyone to look at our facilities before making their decision.

“While we are still getting referrals, being one of the council’s preferred providers would bring us to the attention of more people needing vital respite care and wanting more choice.”

Currently, 28 regular users use the Embrace Care daycare facility, but have the ability to take up to 50 people a day, Debbie has said she also plans to introduce "singing for the brain" sessions, an initiative organised by the Alzheimers Society, from the end of June.

Blackpool Council's director of adult services, Karen Smith, said:  “The council undertook a procurement exercise this year, specifically focussed on daycare for older adults. Tenders were reviewed in line with the council’s procurement procedure and criteria which was outlined in advance to potential service providers.

“A provider was subsequently appointed conforming to the guidance within which local authorities must operate.

“Although it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the scoring of individual tenders we do provide detailed feedback to every applicant and in this case have offered to provide further clarification about the process for future submissions.”