Belper’s Ada Belfield care home will be sold off after councillors rubber-stamped the controversial proposals, says UNISON today (Monday).
The care home built five years ago at a cost of £10m is to be sold despite widespread opposition, including protest marches and a 5,000-strong petition opposing the move.
This Ada Belfield sale comes after eight other care homes and five dementia day centres run by Derbyshire County Council were closed last November.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser Dave Ratchford said: “This is yet another step towards the dismantling of publicly-run social care in Derbyshire, with the council prioritising short-term cost-cutting over the long-term needs of our communities. Private firms don’t put people before profit, and the residents who rely on these services deserve better.
UNISON Derbyshire branch secretary Martin Porter said: “Selling off the Ada Belfield Centre is terrible news for vulnerable Derbyshire residents and their families —ignoring the thousands of people who have marched, petitioned, and pleaded for it to remain in public hands.
