AN 'EXHAUSTED' Greenock pensioner who looks after his dementia-stricken wife around the clock has hit out at Inverclyde social care bosses - declaring he has 'no faith' in them amid ongoing uncertainty over a lifeline service.

Ian Gibbon, 69, who led the fight to keep a daycare service at Alzheimer Scotland's Nicol Street centre two years ago, is demanding a 'cast iron' assurance that his 68-year-old spouse, Janet, will continue to get the vital care she needs.

Ian Gibbon Ian Gibbon (Image: George Munro)

There was public outrage in August 2022 when the Tele revealed the centre's contract with a specialist dementia service was set to go elsewhere - before an agreement was reached at the 11th hour.

It is understood that Inverclyde HSCP has offered a new contract to Alzheimer Scotland and that it has been verbally agreed.

But Mr Gibbon, of Gateside Gardens, said: "I have no faith in Inverclyde HSCP whatsoever.  I was told time and again that contracts are signed before and then it isn't the case.

"The hardest thing about being a carer is having to deal with Inverclyde HSCP. They make life so difficult.

"I have been told there is a three-year contract with an extension of a year. But I will only believe it when the contract is signed.

"If it wasn't for the fight last time round, they would have taken that service away from Alzheimer Scotland.

"Janet going there is a lifeline. I know she is in a safe place, it is a specialist service and they are experts. I can go and get shopping and do things I need to do.

"I don't what life would be like without it."

Mr Gibbon, who has made a number of complaints, with some partially upheld, also slammed the treatment of the vital Carers Centre, which recently lost an advice and support contract.

Following the last saga in August 2022, Mr Gibbon has raised a series of concerns with the HSCP over the way the process was handled and the communication.

Most recently he faced more disruption, with the shock that the Inverclyde Carers Centre had lost the Inverclyde HSCP contract to provide a support service.

Mr Gibbon said: "I think it's a disgrace the way they have been treated, now the chief executive faces a really difficult time to keep the doors open. The carers centre has been here a long time.

"The carers centre has been a great help to me for different things and I don't know what we would do without it.

"But there has been such a lot of unnecessary confusion and I don't think there is a base for the new service."

Former electronics worker Mr Gibbon met his future wife Janet when they worked together.

He was left devastated when she was diagnosed with early onset dementia aged only 61. They married in Gretna a year before.

Mr Gibbon said: "When her condition started to deteriorate, even trying to get her the care she needed and into the day care centre was a battle. At the time they didn't take people with early onset dementia.

"It is a just a constant battle with the HSCP to get the care you need."

Once his wife was in Nicol Street Mr Gibbon faced more struggles to get her additional days that she desperately needed.

He relies heavily on the respite from the daycare centre to cope with Janet's deteriorating health.

An Inverclyde HSCP spokesperson said: “A four-year contract has been awarded – an initial three years with the option of a further year – and is due to begin on 1 July 2024.

“Mr Gibbons was advised this on Thursday of last week, 13 June 2024.”

With regards to the Carers Centre losing their contract the spokesperson added: “We are bound by public procurement regulations which ensures openness, fairness and transparency when awarding contracts and, following an open tender process, a new provider was appointed to deliver this service.

“The new contract for the Inverclyde Carers Gateway service commenced on 1 May 2024 and we have been working with the both the previous and new providers, as well as staff, service users and their families, to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of service for service users.

“This included providing information about new premises, contact details, and general information about services that are available.

“We are committed to the continued delivery of quality, responsive supports to unpaid carers of all ages.”