Decision to close care homes 'totally wrong'

Dozens of people gathered outside County Hall in Matlock to protest against the plans

Protesters called a decision to close or sell off more care homes in Derbyshire as "totally wrong", saying any plans to move elderly relatives would be harmful.

Derbyshire County Council's rubberstamped a decision to sell off Ada Belfield Centre in Belper and to stop residential and respite care at The Staveley Centre, in Staveley, and Thomas Fields in Buxton.

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition against the closure of the Ada Belfield Centre.

Pam Cox said her 94-year-old mother, who is a resident at Ada Belfield, "wouldn't survive a move to another care home".

The centres in Buxton and Staveley will now only provide hospital discharge beds.

Conservative councillor Natalie Hoy, cabinet member for adult care, said long-term residents should be able to stay in the event of a sale of Ada Belfield "at no extra cost".

But Labour opposition group leader, councillor Joan Dixon, said she "is not convinced" people in the Staveley and Buxton homes would be able to stay.

She added some families had told her their relatives were already being moved.

Pam Cox (left) urged the council to pause and rethink the plans

The latest announcement comes on the back of the closure of eight authority-run care homes and five dementia day centres across the county last November.

Ada Belfield only opened five years ago and Pam Cox called it the "jewel in the crown" of care facilities in the county.

The county council on Thursday pressed ahead to sell off the centre but Mrs Cox told the BBC moving her mother away would be catastrophic.

"She's on end-of-life care, she's the only resident who doesn't know Ada Belfield is closing because we know if she did then it would send her downhill.

"She would die, she wouldn't survive a move to another care home - it's just totally wrong.

"They keep the residents there and keep Ada Belfield, it's not fair. I'd say [to the council] stop what you're doing and rethink the whole situation."

Jane Gill said moving her father who has dementia would be detrimental to his health

Jane Gill's father John Vardy is receiving care at the Staveley Centre.

She fears his dementia would rapidly deteriorate if he had to move out.

"He gets brilliant care there, it's absolutely superb, he's well looked after and he's happy there," she said.

"He likes the familiarity of it and we're really concerned that if we have to move him that his dementia will decline even further.

"This is one of the worst things you can do to someone with dementia."

Councillor Natalie Hoy said the projected increase in dementia diagnosis across the region meant the authority had to change the way it provided services

Speaking to the BBC after the meeting, Hoy said she could understand the families' frustrations but people "will be supported" throughout the process.

When asked about relatives already being moved despite assurances long-term residents could stay, Hoy said: "I can't confirm what people have said.

"But I can only answer from the council's perspective that I'd like to reassure everybody that we've gone through a consultation process and now we're at the end the decision's been made today."

Hoy added the council has had "substantial interest" from prospective buyers for Ada Belfield and added any new provider will have to have "good" or "outstanding" Care Quality Commission rating for at least three years.

She said: "I'm confident that a provider will continue the running of the home with no disruption in care to the residents."