We call for Hollins View to stay open
THE Express is today calling on the council to keep open Hollins View care home.
As the consultation into the future of this muchneeded local facility draws to a close we are sending out a clear message: ‘Hands Off Hollins View’.
Two petitions have been compiled after proposals were put forward to transfer all dementia respite care to the independent sector – meaning it would be provided privately and through voluntary services.
Those changes mean that the future of services that Hollins View provides is under threat.
Opponents of the proposals gathered outside the town hall on Tuesday (October 7) to show the depth of feeling against the plans.
Labour group members say they have collected a petition of around 1,500 signatures calling for the care home to stay open. A second petition organised by Senior Voice, a community group which represents elderly people in Macclesfield, has also been signed by more than 500 people.
Jean Bennett, whose 95-year-old father uses the respite service at the care home, said: “Dad has just spent two weeks in Hollins View while I was away and had a great time, and said he would happily stay there longer.
“The service is great and he is very well looked after.
“If the council closes this facility then it would be a massive blow for the community.”
A six-week council consultation into the proposals ends today (Wednesday 8). Coun Laura Jeuda, Labour group spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing, has also campaigned against the proposals. She said: “There is already a shortage of care beds in Macclesfield and the potential closure of Hollins View could result in people having to travel out of the area or have no help at all.
“It is amazing how many people have signed the petition, and that amount of support simply cannot be ignored.”
Councillor Janet Clowes, cabinet member for adult and social care, said the council had only received one petition of 54 names to date.
She added: “There is no doubt that, like ourselves, people care a great deal about this issue which is evident by the high level of information that has been gathered in the course of the current consultation, which is due to end shortly.
“Over the course of the next few weeks, we will evaluate this information carefully and develop a robust strategy to ensure that respite care services not only continue to provide for all those who currently have assessed need, but provide the extra capacity required to ensure that the higher levels of need predicted for the future can also be met.
“Until such times as these results are properly analysed, all services will continue to operate as normal.” ●● TELL us your views: email us at macclesfieldexpress@ menmedia.co.uk or join in the debate on Facebook by searching for Macclesfield Express.