DAMNING documents have revealed health bosses have been warning council chiefs about the ‘negative’ consequences of closing a Kidderminster respite care home for the last two years.

Wyre Forest Labour’s Stephen Brown obtained letters between Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust discussing the future of the under-threat Ludlow Road Short Breaks Centre through a Freedom of Information request.

And he said the letters, dating back to early 2016, showed concerns being raised about the impact any loss of service would have on the vulnerable children who use Ludlow Road.

Mr Brown also accused the authority of using “politically motivated” tactics after parents were told a final decision on the future of the centre would be made on May 10 – days after the local council elections.

Worcestershire County Council refused to answer any of the Shuttle’s questions on the FOI data and only confirmed they were talking to parents about the “next stage of consultation”.

The authority held a consultation into the future of Ludlow Road – which the Health and Care Trust runs on its behalf through £618,000 council funding - earlier this year with one option being to axe it. It had previously discussed closing it in 2017.

In a letter to the council on March 15 2016, the Trust’s director of finance Rob Mackie said: “We are very concerned about the way this has been approached and resultant consequences for children with complex and often life limiting conditions.”

The council’s response to Mr Mackie, on March 30 2016, stated that the resource was unlikely to continue in 2018/19 due to uncertainty over ring-fenced funding.

It also says it was looking to reshape the service by “promoting wellbeing and independence reducing demand and dependency on specialist provision”.

The letter goes on to say: “I know WHCT is under considerable pressure due to the large number of services under review or out to tender. I am however confident in our relationship and commitment to collaborate with you.”

The Trust’s official consultation response this year said: “We are concerned that a proposal which ceases provision at the unit is being considered ahead of the work that needs to be undertaken to assess whether this is a viable option or not.”

Mr Brown said: “The FOI reveals the warnings the NHS gave to the Tory council going back two years about the negative impact of closing Ludlow Road.

“What’s abundantly clear is the breakdown in the relationship between the NHS and council over this, with the council even making threats against the NHS that it will find other providers if the NHS fails to work ‘collaboratively’ with it.

“The council also said it aims to ‘reduce dependency on specialist provision’. This, in a nutshell, confirms early on that the council totally fail to understand the complex medical needs of the disabled children.

“The council, in putting its pursuit of austerity and privatisation ahead of everything else, has lost sight of its duty of care to our most vulnerable citizens. It’s a scandal.”

He added: “Frankly, it’s appalling heartlessness and you have to question whether some of these people are fit for public office, especially when allied to the political ‘decision’ to delay a decision until after the elections.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: "Following the consultation process on the re-design of our overnight unit-based short break provision, we are now reviewing all of the responses that we received.

"Families are being informed about the next stage of the consultation and we would like to thank all of those people who gave us their views.

"We are liaising closely with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, who we fund to provide the service at Ludlow Road, over the proposals."