Dr Pamela Cressey gives her account of the genesis of Over Day Centre:
It had long been my dream as a GP in a rural practice to provide a 'Medical Day Centre' at the surgery where our frailer patients could spend a day being cared for with others, and at the same time have their medical needs assessed and treated on site. I had a special interest in geriatrics, visiting the local care homes on a weekly basis, especially Willingham House, which we fought but failed to save from closure. Later, Brent House in Swavesey provided excellent care.
The opportunity came when Dr Fiona Waters and I established Over Surgery in July 1987. The Cambridge Family Health Authority (FHSA) provided a temporary building to house the practice on the site where a permanent building was designed and built. The new surgery was officially opened in December 1988, and the portacabin became the Over Day Centre on that day.
Meanwhile, plans had been made to establish a medical day centre for the elderly of the practice. The FHSA donated the 'portacabin' to me, and the Ginn Trustees 'sold' a small triangle of land on the corner of the car park for use by the Day Centre or other medical or social project to benefit the people of Over. The portacabin was moved to its new position.
A charitable trust was set up to run the Day Centre – the Over Day Centre Association (ODCA) with Council and Management Committees. The first Chairman was the Rev Giles Ecclestone, the vicar of Over, and Nigel Poulter was Treasurer. Edgar Monks later became Chairman. Improvements to the portacabin were financed by the ODCA.
In 1992 the ODCA was seeking to extend the services to the village elderly, and I approached the ODCA and FHSA about the possibility of adding a very small nursing facility to accommodate frail elderly residents of the village who needed short-term nursing care. It was agreed that the FHSA would facilitate this as an experiment, and they financed an extension to accommodate five beds, which they later donated to me in my capacity as the responsible person to care for the unit.
The ODCA received donations of equipment and the staffing of the unit was assisted by the FHSA seconding two practice nurses (ie paying 70% of their salaries, 70 hours out of the total 168 hours of nursing time each week) for three years. The rest of the finance came from income of the unit, and it was therefore independent of the Day Centre financially. Payments were made by individuals, Social Services and Lifespan.
The unit was opened in September 1992 and continued for two years, servicing over 200 patients in that time. The FHSA (with new personnel) decided to rescind the decision to continue for three years in December 1994 (after two years and three months).
Plans were made for the building of a permanent Day Centre (and a larger nursing unit to make it financially viable), and a funding programme was set up. A decision in August 1995 to go ahead with the building in October 1995 was rescinded in September 1995, and though negotiations have continued since, this part of the project as never been accomplished.
Negotiations with South Cambs and other agencies have continued since that time, and some land behind the surgery was finally bought by SCDC from the Ginn Trustees in 1997 and later 18 sheltered housing units were built (Elm Court). The permanent Day Centre was designed and built on a donated piece of land in the corner of the block. The Council also provided a grant of £90,000 towards the construction and equipment.
Addendum from Trustees of The Over Day Centre Association:
In 2001, with a lot of public support & fundraising, a permanent purpose-designed brick building was opened. This has a capacity of around 30 and boasts a large community room, professional kitchen, admin offices, specialist bathing room, salon, toilets and laundry. We also run a minibus to be able to reach out to clients further away from Over that ensures they can enjoy the Day Centre.
The Building is owned by South Cambridgeshire District Council, is leased to the Charity for a nominal rent and is run by the Board of Trustees, staff and numerous volunteers.
Our purpose then is the same now: 'to help our clients remain independent, socially active, physically mobile and to live as contributing members of their local community'. We provide support for carers and families with respite from the emotional and physically exhausting challenges of caring for a loved one on a daily basis.
In short, we are a local charity that provides affordable professional day care to older people living in South Cambridgeshire within travelling distance of Over.
To request more information, please call our Care Team on 01954 231807 or complete our enquiry form.