Join consultation into the future of Notrees

I REFER to the article last week on Notrees Care Home (Newbury Weekly News, April 28).

The article did not make clear that the consultation on the future of Notrees is being carried out due to a reduced demand for the type of care which the home provides.

In recent years we have seen a greater demand for care homes providing specialist dementia care and less call for care homes, like Notrees, which provide support for lower needs. This is partly because people needing care often prefer to stay at home with live-in or visiting carers for as long as possible. In addition to reduced demand for the type of care Notrees provides, its smaller size and more rural location impact on finding and keeping staff, as well as demand for places.

If the home were to remain open it would also require a further £400,000 investment to maintain over the coming five years.

The council have recently reviewed how it can most efficiently and cost effectively ensure there are sufficient suitable care home places available. It was recommended that Notrees should be closed, with residents offered a place at one of our other care homes.

In addition, a recommendation was made that a large, specialist dementia care home should be bought or built in a central West Berkshire location.

The aim would be for the council to open this within the next five years. Work has already begun on this piece of work to establish the best way forward.

The consultation on Notrees allows anyone with an interest to put forward their views which will be taken into consideration. I would encourage anyone who is interested to read the full information on the consultation and put forward their views here: https://www.westberks. gov.uk/Notrees

JOANNE STEWART

Executive member for adult social care

West Berkshire Council