County council care homes will not close
THERE has been speculation in the media and on social media about the future plans for our care homes across Derbyshire. We’re sure this will have caused unnecessary stress and anxiety to residents, their families and our staff at a time when they are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic.
As one of the largest providers of local authority residential care in the country, we’d like to reassure you that we remain committed to ensuring older people can lead dignified lives in accommodation that is fit for purpose.
We’d like to make it completely clear that following an extensive public consultation, members of our cabinet agreed that none of our care homes would close.
It was vital that we carried out the consultation given the deteriorating state of 10 of our older buildings, their urgent need for significant repairs, the potential cost and the disruption to residents.
And we listened to the public’s views and agreed that we would continue with the planned refurbishment of three homes and none of the seven originally proposed for closure would do so unless a local care home or alternative provision was available to replace it.
Indeed, we have invested in the seven homes that are remaining open to carry out extensive repair work to ensure they are fit for the 21st century to keep our vulnerable residents and staff safe.
All the council’s proposals for ensuring we have the right type of accommodation for older people across Derbyshire are included in our ‘Housing and Accommodation for an Ageing Population: A Strategic Vision for Derbyshire 2035’ which can be viewed at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/adult-care-and-wellbeing/ accommodation-and-housing/ accommodation-and-housing .aspx
We will continue to work closely with district and borough councils, housing and care providers and developers to meet future housing needs while also providing a muchneeded boost to the county’s postCovid economy.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the vital part that our care homes play in the lives of Derbyshire residents and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who works in our care homes, and those in the private sector, for their commitment and dedication.
They have done an amazing job in extremely difficult circumstances and have been a vital lifeline to people when they were unable to see their loved ones and for that we are thankful.
Councillor Barry Lewis, leader,
Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Jean Wharmby, cabinet
member for Adult Care