3 dementia care units to be axed
Families floored by home firm’s closure
ONE of the UK’s largest care home firms has axed three specialist dementia units, leaving families unsure where their lovedones will be looked after.
HC-One Scotland are shutting Milnwood, Mossend and Orbiston units – which look after elderly people with the most advanced dementia needs – at the Hatton Lea care home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire. Last night Ann McGill, whose mum Jan is at Hatton Lea, said dozens of families have been floored by the news. She said: “These are the only specialist units in this area, nobody knows where these vulnerable adults will end up.” Families found out about the closure of the NHS-funded Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) units on Wednesday. A letter stated the units were no longer “fit for purpose”.
HBCCC involves the care of old age psychiatry patients with a dementia diagnosis who need extra clinical support. The majority of those in the units have already been in mainstream care homes but had been forced to leave when staff were unable to cope with their behaviours and needs.
In the letter, HC-One said: “It has become clear that the environment and layout of three communities at Hatton
Lea are not fit for purpose to support the level of care required for the residents living in the units.”
It concluded that it was in the best interests of residents to be supported in other care settings. Families have been asked to a meeting on Tuesday.
Last night Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire made it clear it was not responsible for the closure.
Chief officer Professor Ross McGuffie said: “The company which operates Hatton Lea care home has issued us with a notice that it intends to terminate the contract for the Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care service.
“We will be carrying out a full review of each resident’s care. Our overriding priority is ensuring their continued safety, minimising distress and supporting them and their families through this process.”
A spokesperson for Hatton Lea said: “As a responsible provider of care, we will always acknowledge when our residents could be better supported elsewhere. In this instance, we have sadly had to conclude that Hatton Lea is no longer the best option for our residents with specialist dementia care needs.
“We have worked at length with our NHS partners to find a solution but sadly have been left with no choice but to close the three communities. We will not move forward with the closure until every resident has been supported to find suitable alternative care.”
sadly we have been left with no choice but to close. owner HC-one sCotland on specialist hatton lea units