Carers express 'utter relief' at 'lottery win' as Mirin and Milldale day centres merger rejected

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Carers burst into tears of relief when a controversial proposal to merge two day services for vulnerable people in Renfrewshire was rejected earlier this week.The suggested amalgamation of the Mirin and Milldale centres for adults with learning disabilities and autism was voted down at a special meeting of the integration joint board (IJB) on Monday.

The IJB – responsible for oversight of the health and social care partnership – reconsidered contentious recommendations to combine the centres and close Flexicare after it was split down the middle on how to proceed in March.

This time, both were refused after a 5-3 vote.Helen McAleer, 72, whose 50-year-old daughter Amanda attends Milldale at the On-X Linwood, is one of dozens of battle-weary campaigners who have fought the idea of a merger for months – including through multiple protests at Renfrewshire House.

Reflecting on the decision, she said: "It was utter, utter relief. We had carers in tears and I couldn't tell you what kind of relief it was.