March in Southampton against closure of Woodside Lodge

Woodside Lodge, a care home for elderly dementia sufferers, will close later this year as part of a raft of cuts to the city council’s adult social care department.

The cuts, which also include the closures of the Kentish Road respite centre and day services for adults with learning disabilities, will also result in the loss of 130 jobs.

Labour council chiefs pressed on with the cuts even though most of the vulnerable people affected had not had assessments.

At the meeting when the cuts were approved in December, council health boss Dave Shields said the authority was in “difficult financial circumstances” and that “it was not possible to exempt adult social care from the council’s savings target”.

But despite the fact the 27-bed home will now close this year, residents and opposition politicians have continued their fight against the closure and will lead a protest march from Shirley Precinct at 11am to the home in Wimpson Lane at noon.

It has been organised by Shirley resident Linda Hayes, a self-employed hairdresser who visits the 11 remaining residents and whose father used to get care there before his death in 2003.

She said: “I am doing this to try and make people realise that these cutbacks are affecting vulnerable people with dementia.

“There is one man who was moved from pillar to post before he ended up at Woodside Lodge where he felt settled, and his family are really concerned about him.”

Independent rebel councillors Keith Morrell (pictured left) and Don Thomas (right) are supporting today’s march, with Cllr Morrell saying: “The mainstream political parties have let down the residents, their families and the dedicated staff of Woodside Lodge.

“Linda is making a valiant stand in rallying support for keeping the Lodge open.”

Cllr Thomas added: “This isn’t just about the residents being turned out of Woodside Lodge now, this is about future generations of Southampton citizens losing a valuable and much-loved resource.”

Conservative opposition deputy leader Jeremy Moulton said: “I know there are some very genuine people campaigning to stop the closure of Woodside Lodge, including relatives who are worried about their loved ones and they are to be commended for their efforts.”

IT may not look like the most important of buildings - but it is the lifeline that provides vital care for a Southampton great-grandfather and much-needed respite for his 87-year-old wife.

Doreen Bascombe is a carer for her husband Cornelius, 87, who suffers from memory loss and visits Woodside Lodge care home twice a week.

But Doreen says she and fellow carers have been left in the dark about the future after city council chiefs decided to close the home as part of ongoing budget cuts.

Cornelius has been visiting Woodside Lodge in Millbrook for more than ten years, and Doreen fears she won’t be able to cope with the pressure of providing round-the-clock care for him.

She said: “We have not heard anything when you ask anybody they say we do not know. I want to what is exactly is going on – all we know is that it’s closing.”

“If I knew what was happening then I could cope with it.”

Coxford councillor Don Thomas has called on the council to come clean about what will happen to the vulnerable residents, describing it as “wicked and shameful” how Doreen and other families were being treated.

Southampton City Council said: “The council has been very clear at every stage, and this was reiterated in the cabinet decision, that Woodside Lodge will not close until all residents have been supported to move safely to suitable alternative placements.

"Therefore, it is not possible to state categorically when it will officially close.”

• With additional reporting by Michael Carr.