Stroud care home closures going ahead
Published
13.08.2019
The decision made by the county council to close two care homes in Stroud has been supported by a scrutiny committee.
Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet made the decision to close Wyatt House and Southfield care homes in July due to falling demand and outdated dementia facilities.
But five county councillors from a cross-party group ‘called-in’ the decision to be reviewed by the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee, on the basis that they believed the proper process had not been followed when making the decision.
The scrutiny committee held a special meeting today to review the process and found that the decision making process was carried out correctly. The majority of councillors on the committee opposed to the grounds for call in, meaning the closure of the care homes will go ahead.
The chair of the scrutiny committee, Cllr Stephen Hirst, said: “We carefully reviewed the process that had been undertaken and after much discussion, in which all committee members had the opportunity to contribute, committee members voted on whether they supported or opposed the grounds for call in. Three councillors supported the grounds for call in, whilst six councillors opposed.
“This means that the decision made at the Cabinet meeting on 24 July is upheld and the care homes will close.”
As the scrutiny committee upheld cabinet’s decision to close the care homes, the adult social care team will start a 12-week consultation on the impact this will have on residents and their relatives. This impact assessment follows on from the meetings that have already taken place with families, and gives the residents and their loved ones further opportunity to raise any of the potential effects that the move will have on them individually. This ensures the process of moving residents and closing the homes is carefully managed and that everyone is given the best options for their care.
More information behind the recommendations to close the care homes can be found in the original cabinet report: http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/documents/g9229/Public%20reports%20pack%20Wednesday%2024-Jul-2019%2010.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10