A HIGH Legh man who provides full time care for his disabled wife has blasted recent cuts in health and social care facilities in the area.

The pensioner contacted the Guardian after we revealed that the Tatton Unit at Knutsford Community Hospital will close on September 6 for four months.

It later emerged that this is due to the ward being just one doctor short.

But the carer, who has asked to remain anonymous to respect his wife’s wishes, says it is just the latest in a series of closures that have taken place without considering the impact on users.

The 68-year-old used to take his wife, who is mentally and physically disabled, to Cypress House, in Handforth, at the weekends for respite.

But the unit, which has 30 beds and 38 day care places, closed to save Cheshire East Council £700,000 a year – despite a challenge from eight councillors.

The High Legh resident now has to take his wife to respite facilities at Macclesfield, Congleton or Crewe.

He said: “I do recognise that today’s financial climate makes it necessary for the council to find cost savings and this will necessarily inconvenience some of us.

“I am prepared to take my share if I can see that decisions are being taken fairly.

“If one centre had to close then cost will be a major factor, but I consider it should have been essential to take into account the impact on users of the centre chosen.

“In this case, I would have expected to at least have been consulted about the impact on my life. At weekends I could make the round trip to Handforth in under an hour.

“I find that the round trip to Macclesfield takes little short of two hours so the closure of Cypress House costs me something approaching four hours out of my respite.

“In addition I incur additional petrol costs. I have asked if a taxi can be provided to relieve me of the journeys, but this request has been refused.

“So it seems the council is prepared to save money by, in effect, transferring some of its costs onto carers. I was not consulted at all.”