Anger as council confirms care home closures

Councillors have approved a plan to shut eight authority-run care homes and five dementia day centres despite fierce opposition.

Cabinet members on the Conservative-controlled Derbyshire County Council made the decision at a meeting at County Hall in Matlock on Thursday in a bid to save money and to remodel the care service they provide.

Dozens of people attended a protest before the meeting, and some shouted "shame" as the vote was passed.

Dave Ratchford, East Midlands regional organiser at union Unison, told the BBC: "These are cuts to vital services for the people of Derbyshire... we've heard the most horrendous, heartbreaking stories."

The closures have been criticised by Derbyshire MPs, opposition councillors and several people who have relatives using the services.

But the authority said there had been a fall in demand for residential homes as more people preferred to remain at home, as well as a need to "focus resources on providing care for people with dementia".

The council is also dealing with overspends in its social care departments and is preparing to make £30m in cuts to balance its books.

Critics of the plan have said this will end up costing the council more money in the long-term - including those working in the voluntary sector.

Labour's opposition group leader Joan Dixon said the council "effectively moving away from the care home market" would "encourage private operators to increase prices".

Mr Ratchford, of Unison, said the closures and sale of the homes would have a "detrimental impact" on service users and staff.

The council has said it is one of the last local authorities in the country to own and run a significant number of residential care homes.

The council added there was adequate specialist provision of homes throughout the county, providing good quality care, and that "many, if not all, of the homes" currently run by the council could well be transferred to private operators.

Natalie Hoy, cabinet member for adult care at the council, said it had to redesign the service due to a lack of demand for residential care.

She told the BBC the council has had "significant interest" from the private sector to take on the running of the homes - many under a dual registration providing nursing and residential care.

The following care homes are due to be closed and sold off:

• Briar Close, Borrowash

• Castle Court, Swadlincote

• The Grange, Eckington

• Lacemaker Court, Long Eaton

• The Leys, Ashbourne

• New Bassett House, Shirebrook

• Rowthorne, Swanwick

• Thomas Colledge, Bolsover

Bennerley Fields in Cotmanhay would be repurposed to be used exclusively for community support beds.

The following dementia day centres are also due to close:

• Blackwell Day Centre, Bolsover

• Fabrick Day Services, Clay Cross

• Jubilee Centre, New Mills

• Queen's Court, Buxton

• Valley View Day Centre, Bolsover

These would stay open:

• Eccles Fold Resource Centre, Chapel-en-le-Frith

• Hasland Resource Centre, Chesterfield

• Shirevale Resource Centre, Shirebrook

While they would stay open, a further consultation will be held on the future role of:

• Florence Shipley, Heanor

• Whitestones, Chapel-en-le-Frith

• Meadow View, Matlock

• Oaklands, Swadlincote

• Ada Belfield, Belper

• Staveley Centre, Chesterfield

• Thomas Fields, Buxton

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