Massive shake-up in care of elderly people
New centre in Blantyre will replace two older buildings
An investment in facilities that will transform the care of the elderly in Hamilton and Blantyre has been given the green light.
The move is the first phase in a remodelling of care facilities across South Lanarkshire which aims to help older people live independently at home for as long as possible.
Last week, the council’s Social Work committee approved plans for the first phase of development of the new care facility model, focusing on the Hamilton and Blantyre areas.
It will centre on a newbuild facility at the site of the former St Joseph’s in Blantyre and will replace Larkhall’s Mcwhirter House and Blantyre’s Kirkton House – both older buildings that the council says are no longer fit to meet the level of need of individuals with complex health and care requirements.
Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Councillor John Ross, said: “We are introducing this model of care in the Hamilton area first because that is where the need is most pressing.
“I am grateful that councillors of all parties have been supportive of the new model in principle, and we will bring forward detailed plans for other localities in due course.”
However, Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Labour, said: “These are the biggest changes to care home provision in South Lanarkshire in over 20 years and the way this has been handled by the SNP administration has been completely and utterly shambolic.
“While the last Labour administration set aside £18 million to invest in new care facilities and did so with cross-party support, the plans voted through by the SNP and the Tories will mean care home closures and cuts to bed numbers.
“The people of South Lanarkshire have not been properly consulted and councillors have still not been given the assurances they need and deserve.”
The new facility will serve the wider Hamilton area. It will support older people, their families and carers, providing transitional care between hospital and home as part of a wider package that will continue to include longer-term care home places and respite care.
Services will be delivered by a team of health and social care professionals who will focus on helping individuals who become unwell to avoid hospital admission where possible.
Where people have required a spell in hospital, they will be supported to get them back on their feet by offering rehabilitation in a transitional care setting.
Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Social Work Resources Committee, Councillor John Bradley, said: “Working closely across health and social care, we have developed a new model of care that will enhance our ability to meet changing care needs, particularly in light of significant population change over the last 20 years.”
Executive director of health and social care, Val de Souza, said: “The evidence is that most people would prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible and live in a community they know with friends and family near at hand.
“This new model of transitional care will support that ambition.”
Most people would prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible