A MAJOR review of York’s care homes has been launched – with Labour councillors saying it should lead to modernisation but unions concerned that one or more might close.
Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour’s cabinet member for adult social services, said the focus was on improving residential care homes so they would be “fit for the next generation of residents and beyond”.
Promising full consultation with residents, their families and staff, she said there would inevitably be a period of uncertainty for residents, but she wanted to reassure them that, whatever the conclusions, they would not receive any reduction in care.
She said: “Indeed, I expect us to be able to improve facilities that should enable our care staff to continue doing a fantastic job for care home residents, but in better facilities.”
However, Heather McKenzie, of the union Unison, said: “We are concerned this could lead to a closure, or closures.”
She said the union also wanted to ensure the city’s nine residential care homes remained in-house, and was concerned about the “potentially catastrophic” consequences if there was an attempt to outsource them. She also claimed that staff had not been consulted early enough or openly enough.
Asked whether there were proposals to close one or more homes, Coun Simpson-Laing said officers were working on a report to come to cabinet in July, and she was not going to pre-empt what options it might contain.
She said: “But what we do expect is that officers present us with all options for the improvement of residential care provision in the city.
“We have a number of care homes and all of them are included in this review.” Asked about the potential disruption to residents, she said it was impossible to know what could be disruptive when there were no agreed plans on the table, but the priority would always be residents’ well-being.
In a letter to relatives of home residents, the council has said that the current buildings are coming to the end of their useful life as fit-for-purpose care homes. It said meetings would be held at 11am on Monday, July 11, to brief relatives and residents on a report setting out options for the future, with a decision set to be made by the cabinet in November.
Coun Sian Wiseman, Tory shadow member for adult social services, said some homes were in need of modernisation, and the future of service provision must provide a high standard of care for all service users. James Player, of Age UK York, said it was awaiting the report and would be involved in the consultation.
• Are you affected by these proposals? Email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk or phone 01904 567132
Quality of care should be priority
YORK council’s ruling Labour group has announced a major review of local authority-run elderly people’s homes in the city.
Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the cabinet member for adult social services, said the aim was to improve conditions and ensure the homes – many of which do not have en-suite facilities – are fit for the 21st century. There would be no reduction in care for residents, she stressed.
If conditions for elderly people living in council homes are to be improved, that is indeed good news. There have been some shocking stories in the national press recently about the appalling treatment of elderly people in some care homes.
There is no suggestion that elderly people in York living in either council or privately-run homes are treated with anything other than the dignity and consideration they deserve. But any move to improve their circumstances is to be welcomed.
Nevertheless, any review brings with it uncertainty. Elderly people in the city and their families will inevitably be worried at the prospect of disruption: especially since Unison has warned the review could result in at least one of the homes being closed, or put into the hands of private contractors.
The city council has been tasked with making big savings, so part of the review may well be looking at saving money.
We understand the need for that. But the elderly people living in these homes are frail and vulnerable. Whatever changes are brought in, they must not be at the cost of their health and happiness.
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