Political concerns about the proposed closure of Daat-Drenthe are increasing. Daat-Drenthe (part of GGZ Drenthe) offers daytime activities or reintegration programs for people with psychological problems at its locations. GGZ Drenthe wants to close or have the locations of Daat-Drenthe in Beilen, Assen, Hoogeveen and Emmen taken over.
The uncertainty among the more than 400 participants and 45 supervisors is great. Will they end up on the street or not? Several participants have set up an action group to prevent the closure, a petition has now been signed more than 1200 times. GroenLinks, SP, D66 and Assen Centraal, among others, expressed their concerns to the various municipal authorities about the future of the participants.
The unrest arose after a letter went out in mid-November in which it was discussed the ‘organizational change’ that GGZ Drenthe wants to implement with regard to Daat-Drenthe. According to the healthcare organization, the costs are too high and the turnover and final income are too low.
In a Powerpoint presentation in the hands of RTV Drenthe, it is stated that this applies broadly to the whole of GGZ Drenthe. But the question of what exactly this means is not addressed. “The negative results at Daat-Drenthe have an impact on the rest of GGZ Drenthe, for example because some investments cannot be made as a result,” the organization writes in a statement. “The expectation is that the work-learning companies and daytime activities will remain unprofitable.” Another factor is that the rates under the Social Support Act (wmo) are lower and that the number of participants is decreasing, says the GGZ.
The same presentation also shows that the eight apprenticeship companies (spread across Hoogeveen, Assen, Beilen and Emmen) will stop anyway. It is not yet known what will happen to the two day activity centers. GGZ Drenthe writes that ‘a number of locations will be closed and we are looking for opportunities for takeover’.
The organization also emphasizes that the activities of the participants will continue, but that in many cases this will not take place at Daat-Drenthe. It’s about other locations. Discussions will be held with the supervisors and participants about this in the near future, says GGZ Drenthe. The organization wants to focus on ‘restorative care for people with serious psychiatric problems’.
“As politicians, we can find all kinds of things about that, but we are not about that,” says alderman Dennis Bouwman of the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. Last Friday, together with alderman Jan Broekema of the municipality of Assen, he had a meeting with the management of GGZ Drenthe. “If GGZ Drenthe no longer wants to offer daytime activities, but another party does, then it will remain a closed chain. We have insisted on a good and quick transition for the participants. But also for the supervisors. It is difficult enough in healthcare to find good people. Take care of these people too.”
According to Bouwman, GGZ Drenthe has responded positively to this. “They are also striving for that. So that is hopeful. We have also agreed to keep talking to each other. That will not be this year, but in January.”
(Text continues below the photo)