The Scarborough News

Seafront nursing home closes

Filey’s seafront nursing home has closed, with job losses and upheaval for frail residents who have been scattered around the area in new homes.

- By Ian Johnson ian.johnson@jpress.co.uk Twitter: @Ian_JohnsonSN

Filey’s only nursing home has closed.

Ackworth House’s closure has brought with it substantia­l job losses, and upheaval for frail residents who have been scattered around the area in new homes.

The last resident moved out on Saturday after management made the decision to pull the plug on the seafront care home.

Bosses have refused to explain why they have closed, but North Yorkshire County Council says the home had been facing “significan­t” financial problems.

The closure comes month after the home was the subject of a damning report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

But a final report published yesterday found that owners the Bradney family were turning the home around – and that “considerab­le” improvemen­ts had been made.

“I just feel very sad for the residents of Ackworth House and sad at the fact that Filey no longer has a nursing home,” said Filey’s county councillor Sam Cross.

“I feel very sad for the workforce that no longer have a job and also for the Bradneys who have worked really hard building up the business over the years.”

The CQC says staff were given just two weeks’ notice that they were losing their jobs.

Employees and residents were told by the Bradneys on July 23 that the home was to close, with the watchdog informed at the start of August.

“We have been in close liaison with the local authority who facilitate­d the safe relocation of all residents to alternativ­e placements,” said a CQC spokespers­on.

The Mercury contacted both the home and boss Peter Bradney, but nobody would speak on record.

Sources close to the operators said that despite the criticism aimed at the home over the past 12 months, residents were “heartbroke­n” to be forced to move.

A county council spokespers­on said it had recently been made aware that the home had major cash-flow difficulti­es.

“Whilst encouragin­g the

‘I just feel very sad for the residents’

Cllr Sam Cross North Yorkshire County Council

home’s bankers to maintain the long-term viability of Ackworth House, the county council and the Scarboroug­h and Ryedale Clinical Commission­ing Group (CCG) had to make contingenc­y plans to find suitable accommodat­ion for the home’s 19 residents.

“Once it became clear that the home would be closing, the county council and the CCG moved swiftly to talk with residents and their families and to find alternativ­e permanent places for all residents.

“The county council and the CCG also ensured that there was sufficient staffing cover to meet the needs of residents until they moved from the home.

“Every effort was made to ensure residents were able to move home safely and with respect. The county council and the clinical commission­ing group acknowledg­e that it is often difficult for someone to move from their home to another one, especially with short notice.

“Both agencies will continue to support residents to settle into their new homes.”

Filey has several residentia­l homes, but Ackworth is understood to have been the only care home for people with physical or sensory impairment.

 ??  ?? Ackworth House has closed, with the county council claiming it was facing “significan­t” financial problems.
Ackworth House has closed, with the county council claiming it was facing “significan­t” financial problems.
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