Final verdict Decision to shut care homes confirmed

TWO care homes which had been facing an uncertain future will definitely close. Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet approved the closures of Wyatt House and Southfield in Stroud, in July, but a cross-party group of county councillors blocked the decision due to concerns over the consultation process.

A plan was in place to move residents out by Christmas, but the group of councillors pushed for the decision to be called in for review.

The authority gave the residents and staff as little as 48 hours notice of the closures in June.

Labour group leader Councillor Lesley Williams (Stonehouse) told a council meeting the amount of notice given was “utterly unconstitutional”.

And Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-water and Northleach) said the decision to inform residents about the closures was “rushed” and “caused distress”.

But Councillor Roger Wilson (C, te Winchchombe) said the accusations were “baseless”.

He added: “You cannot have lengthy periods of time between announcing the consultation to close the care homes and the actual decision.

“The only rush was to take that cabinet decision to close the care homes, which I believe was the right thing to do and it was the right advice from the independent experts.”

A consultation will immediately be sent to residents and staff at the two care homes after councillors voted against the call-in by a majority of three.

Wyatt House and Southfield are managed by The Orders of St John Care Trust, who run the care home as part of the Gloucestershire Care Partnership.

The 56 residents would be placed in alternative facilities and employees will be offered similar roles elsewhere.

The closures come a year after the local authority shut two other care homes - Trevone House in Gloucester and Townsend House in Mitcheldean.

There is a 10 to 15 per cent vacancy level across care homes in the Stroud district, the council said, adding Southfield consistently has more than 15 per cent of its rooms empty with forecasts indicating further decline.

Wyatt House, which specialises in dementia nursing care for the elderly, was built nearly 50 years ago, and the authority said it cannot offer the more modern and appropriate specialist care it can purchase from other homes in the area.

After the meeting, Mrs Williams said: “The effect is saying that we don’t want to talk to people and we don’t want to find out what other people are thinking about. It’s not just about now, it’s also about the future of other care homes. It’s shocking.”

Mr Wilson confirmed the care homes will close on the basis of the cabinet decision made three weeks ago.

He said: “The consultation that should have started on August 1 will now start immediately.

“That consultation will be on the impact of the closures with all people involved in this.”