Concerns over overnight care changes at scheme

Sharon Clarke has set up a petition against plans to remove overnight care at Jubilee Court

Residents and their families have said they are worried about plans to remove round-the-clock on-site care at a Stafford retirement housing scheme.

Proposals to stop funding the overnight care team at Jubilee Court, Edison Road, from January would see residents instead rely on a call-in support system.

Sharon Clarke, whose grandmother and great aunt live at the site, set up a petition to continue the 24-hour care and said some did not hear about the proposals until they were told by other residents.

The Care Plus service is part of the Housing Plus Group which said it was working with the county council and care providers to support its residents in accessing the care and support they need.

'Isn't broken'

Staffordshire County Council said Jubilee Court was not run or funded by the authority and that none of the residents it supports required overnight care.

Martin Rogerson, cabinet member for health and care, said: "The council funds care services for some residents and they will continue to receive care calls at the usual times.

"They will continue to be able to use their pendant alarms as they do already," he added.

"Unfortunately we are not able to continue to fund an additional service which is not actually required."

Ms Clarke said her grandmother, who has dementia, can live independently now, but due to the changes she may be "forced to move" when she needs more enhanced care.

"There have been no advocates for these people and some are really vulnerable," she said.

"We want it to stay as it is. Why change something that isn't broken?"

Resident Tony Simcox said: "If anything happens to you [at night] they come to you. Who is going to come now – how long is it going to be before the ambulance people get fed up of coming to put a sticking plaster on people?"

Another resident Brian Dufton, who recently moved in with his wife Christine, said: "I knew nothing about this when I signed up for a flat.

"My wife has dementia and we moved here for the potential for care when it was required."

Brian Dufton moved to Jubilee Court last month

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham wrote to council leaders calling for a "full and transparent consultation" with residents and their families.

"Equality in care should mean meeting the needs of vulnerable people wherever they live, not levelling down provision," she said.

"This appears to be a cost-cutting decision, but one that is based on a false economy," she added, saying Staffordshire County Council had received £40 million from the government's Better Care Fund.

The changes are due to be discussed at the next meeting of the Coton Community Group on 30 October.

Les Clarke, executive director of care and support at Housing Plus Group, which runs the housing service at Jubilee Court, said: "We are working with Staffordshire County Council and care providers to support our residents in accessing the care and support that they need.

"Everyone who needs personal care will continue to receive it."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.