Dozens of elderly people, including those with dementia, face a distressing Christmas over Derbyshire County Council’s proposals to close seven care homes.
UNISON members were outside County Hall in Matlock yesterday (Monday 6 December) opposing plans that will see around 70 residents having to find alternative accommodation.
The union, which represents carers who will be affected, is warning that highly skilled care staff could quit because of uncertainty around their futures at the homes in Sandiacre, West Hallam, Clowne, Tibshelf, Brimington, New Mills and Bakewell.
A 12-week consultation period on the closure plans has now begun but Derbyshire County Council has revealed that all remaining residents will be forced to move out by September 2022 whether the consultation results show support for it or not.
Make your voice heard on the plans – sign the petition here.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser Emma Roberts said: “The impact on residents and their carers will be devastating. These are vulnerable people who need protecting and Derbyshire County Council must work to find a better solution.
“No staff should face compulsory redundancy if the closures do go ahead. Instead, the priority must be on redeploying care workers to other vacant roles across the local authority.”
UNISON adult social care lead convenor Danny Treacy said: “Residents will rightly be concerned about the upheaval this announcement will cause.
“Council failures to maintain care facilities adequately are longstanding. Neither the care home residents nor staff are to blame for these shortcomings.”
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Notes to editors
– The full paper on the proposed closures can be found here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Media contacts:
Chris Birks M: 07870 407670 E: c.birks@unison.co.uk
