VULNERABLE adults were left in the dark over the impact of sweeping changes to support services, a new review has found.

Users, including the elderly and those with learning difficulties, endured stress and worry during the overhaul of daytime services in 2017.

As part of a bid to make £1m of savings, the county council replaced its health and wellbeing centres and learning disability daytime support services –which operated from 22 bases – with a countywide 'community support service' operating from just eight sites.

The report by Healthwatch Oxfordshire found that two thirds of users felt that their opinions had not been taken on board by the council, while 50 per cent of those with learning difficulties did not understand what the changes would mean for them.

Read again: Older people 'left in the dark' over day centre changes

The report did reveal however that the majority of users had now settled into the new system and felt that the service provided independence and helped reduce loneliness.

Recommendations include that the council improves its communication, and that the impact of changes particularly on carers be addressed throughout any future change.

Director of Adult Social Care, Kate Terroni, said the council had already started to strengthen relationships with local communities adding: "We will ensure that the people we support and carers are given regular updates and opportunity to give their views."

Read the full report here https://healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/our-reports/healthwatch-oxfordshire-reports/