A CALL is being made for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to take action following the sudden closure of The Disability Resource Centre.

The vital centre is located in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital but does not come under BCUHB. 

Staff were made redundant from centre on Thursday, January 25. It is understood trustees came in to tell staff the centre was "now closed." Administrators were on site on Tuesday, January 30.

Gareth Davies, MS for Vale of Clwyd, said: "I’ve visited the Disability Resource Centre at Glan Clwyd Hospital on many occasions and was able to see the fantastic work the team do to provide practical solutions for people with disabilities, so this is a devastating blow for disabled people in the local area who relied on this service.

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“Although it is not run directly by BCUHB, the centre operates on their site at Glan Clwyd and has had a longstanding relationship with the board in order to successfully do its job.

"I don’t buy the line that the board know nothing about it as there must have been internal communications made prior to the closure and I will speak to senior personnel within Betsi Cadwaladr to find out how much they know and see what potential replacement services the NHS could make as this is a public service that disabled people rely on, and something which the health board has an obligation to fill.”

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The centre has been running for 25 years. It provides mobility aids and equipment for people with disabilities, sensory impairments and chronic conditions.

The mobility shop, workshop and offices offers short term wheelchair hire to sales, installations, vehicle adaptations and more. 

Caring individuals, who had lost their jobs, volunteered at the site on Tuesday to help return mobility equipment to customers. 

One devastated worker, who has asked not to be named, said: "We finally got all the scooters and equipment back to customers on Tuesday afternoon. All staff were now volunteers as no longer employed by The Disability Resource Centre. The final customer delivery was to a small farmhouse near Corwen."

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, said: “The surprise closure of the Disability Resource Centre is a devastating blow to staff and those who rely on its services. I am working with other local elected representatives and others to leave no stone unturned in seeking a solution to this issue so that the services can continue to be provided from the premises and that customers and clients don’t lose out.”

The centre covers areas / has customers in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Flint, Holywell, Mold, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Bangor.

Elin Gwynedd, Chief of Staff at BCUHB, said: “It is a real shame this centre has closed and we sympathise with those affected by the closure. The Health Board was not informed of the intention to close and we have not been involved in discussions surrounding this decision.

“We also have a lease agreement with the Disability Resource Centre and the decision to close also puts our services in a difficult position.  This is ultimately a decision taken by a private company without wider consideration.”