Petition started in campaign for care homes

2:30pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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By Simon Carr »

PENSIONERS are hoping that people power can help save their under-threat care homes.

A petition was launched yesterday to give residents, their relatives and the public the chance to have their say about controversial plans to shut two Southampton care homes.

Plans to close Birch Lawn in Sholing and Whitehaven Lodge in Millbrook would see almost 62 residents moved out of their homes, the loss of 88 beds and 70 staff out of work.

Union bosses say it was the strength of public opinion and the importance of the issue that prompted them to start the petition.

Unison chief Mike Tucker said: "At the very least we hope this convinces the Southampton City Council to hold a proper consultation.

"This is such a major plan the only responsible thing they can do is defer the decision, hold talks with all the residents, relatives and the organisations that represent the interests of the elderly. We also want the decision to go before full council, not just the Cabinet, it is too important for that."

A demonstration is also planned for September 29 at 4pm in front of the civic centre. A delegation of protesters has asked to address councillors before the decision-making Cabinet meeting takes place.

The petition comes after the Daily Echo revealed that secret meetings had been going on for months regarding the future of the homes.

Council valuations seen by the Echo also showed that the authority stood to net £1.5m if the land the two care homes are on were to be sold. Yesterday, we highlighted the situation of just two of the pensioners who face losing their homes if this decision goes ahead - pensioners Phyllis Berry, 93, and double amputee Stan Nash, 89, a war veteran.

The Daily Echo understands that if these plans are passed it would take between 12 and 18 months to run down the care homes before remaining residents will have to move out. The council claims that the planned closures have been prompted by a ten percent fall in demand and in a statement to residents said: "Very few people wish to go into residential care."

However, the 33-bed Birch Lawn has a waiting list of five people who have been hoping for a place for a couple of months - a fact confirmed by the council. The council said that the home has 26 residents, six-short stay and currently one vacant bed.

Whitehaven Lodge, it claims, has 36 residents and 19 empty beds.

Unions fear that these closures may eventually herald the end for the remaining care homes which specialise in dementia - Woodside Lodge, Holcroft House, Brownhill House and Glen Lee. Ivan White, Cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: "It's not being proposed and as I see the trend for dementia care is increasing it's unlikely in the foreseeable future."

He said that the wellbeing of those in care was the council's priority but it was unnecessary to put the Cabinet decision before the full council.