Cash problems cause drug and rehab centre to close

By North Devon Journal | Thursday, September 29, 2011, 08:00

A DRUG and alcohol rehabilitation centre has closed with financial problems leaving patients to be re-homed.

SHUT DOWN: Lampton Court drug and rehabilitation centre .

Lampton Court, based near Littleham on the outskirts of Bideford, suddenly ceased trading last week.

The centre can take up to 32 patients, but it is believed there were around 10 getting treatment when it closed suddenly.

One former employee of Lampton Court, which traded as Health and Care Partnership Ltd, said he was owed about £900.

He believed nine other staff had not been paid for two months.

Some members of staff were volunteering on Monday and Tuesday re-homing clients.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "It has been very difficult working there for the past year and things have been bad.

"There has not been enough clients to pay the bills and the new managers, who were brought in about three or four months ago, have had less funding to work with. They have been trying their best to sort it out, but I think we had all seen it coming for a long time."

In April 2007 the centre began a £2 million expansion plan which saw its 19 beds increase to provide 24-hour care for 32 adults aged 18 to 65.

However, the former employee said client numbers had dropped during this time, at some points to just five or six.

In July, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) concluded Lampton Court needed improvements to meet essential standards to ensure people were protected from abuse and medicines were given when needed and in a safe way.

It also suggested improvements to ensure people got appropriate care and there were enough members of staff to keep people safe, although the centre was meeting essential standards in these areas.

The CQC made the judgements after investigations revealed personal relationships between former staff members and ex-patients and a high staff turnover.

The former employee felt the decrease in the centre's reputation also affected client numbers and the closure.

A more recent report in August this year said improvements with the administering of medication had been made.

No one from Lampton Court was available to comment.

A spokesman for the Devon Drugs Service said residents of Lampton Court had been interviewed, their needs assessed and alternative arrangements had been made for them.

On the centre's website Dave Rice, former IT manager, said: "Lampton Court was so much more than a business. Lampton saved lives."

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Comments

I went to Lampton in the summer of 2009 and they quite litterally saved my life and others. I'm still in touch with a number of people who were there at the same time and many of us are doing well. I have even started a day service near where I live. It is really hard to get funding even though we all know there is a massive need. Some of us recieving treatment came from professional backgrounds including services, lawyer, chef, classical musician, many of us having been to university and so much more. Addiction affects so many people from so many backgrounds and Lampton alllowed us all to come together and find ourselves again so we could return to being useful healthy people.

I wish the very best to everyone who was there in 2009 both staff and service users. It wasn't always easy but I am so glad I was there and not least thanks to the guy who put his money up to get the place started in the first place. Thank You all.

By coachone at 10:14 on 11/02/12
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I went thru lampton court 9 years ago & thought it was an excellent rehab. it WAS analytically run but had heard that had changed. they ran a lot of outdoor activities from there. Sort of team buliding & at one point, me & 6 others got the opportunity to sail a yacht to the isle of man. Was amazing & coming from a poor background, it was something I would never have got the chance to do without them. The managers name was geoff back then & I could tell they were in trouble even back then.
I know a lot of the staff have left so the ppl there now i probably would not know but I have to say that Mo, Serina, Deana & Kieth made my transition into the real world possible & for that I will always thank them.
A sad week for addicts local to the area.
This rehab worked!!

By samnjay1 at 15:23 on 04/10/11
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I went thru lampton court 9 years ago & thought it was an excellent rehab. it WAS analytically run but had heard that had changed. they ran a lot of outdoor activities from there. Sort of team buliding & at one point, me & 6 others got the opportunity to sail a yacht to the isle of man. Was amazing & coming from a poor background, it was something I would never have got the chance to do without them. The managers name was geoff back then & I could tell they were in trouble even back then.
I know a lot of the staff have left so the ppl there now i probably would not know but I have to say that Mo, Serina, Deana & Kieth made my transition into the real world possible & for that I will always thank them.
A sad week for addicts local to the area.
This rehab worked!!

By samnjay1 at 15:22 on 04/10/11
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Ther are lots of reasons why people become addicts. One of the most common being abuse, whether in childhood or later in life. People sometimes take things to numb the pain or block out the reality of what is happening to them.
Sometimes children are bought up in households where drug and alcohol abuse is part of everyday life and they know no better. It isnt always about just making an educated choice.

Im not saying that you dont get people who just go out out get the high, but sometimes it isnt so straightforward.

By wolrah1 at 10:44 on 04/10/11
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Perhaps bringing back isolation hospitals for people who cope with the pressure of life by becoming compulsive drinkers or drug takers or over eating. With relief from the demands of modern life and learning new coping mechanisms this may prevent crime occurring and re-occurring.

By policyguru at 22:30 on 03/10/11
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