Residents to leave 'not fit for purpose' care home

Twenty two elderly people live at Trefula House, near Redruth

Residents at a Cornwall Council-run care home have been told they have to move out.

Twenty two elderly people who live at Trefula House, near Redruth, will have to find alternative accommodation after the care home was deemed “not fit for purpose”.

It was hoped that a replacement care home would be built at Vogue, near St Day, while Trefula House remained open.

However, this has not been possible and staff will now work with the NHS to find new homes for the residents.

'Significant expenditure'

Cornwall Council’s care business Corserv took over the running of Trefula in August 2019 from a previous operator following a critical CQC report, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Following Cornwall Council’s takeover of Trefula in 2019 it was recognised that the building was not fit for purpose and would need to be redeveloped.

"Our long-term ambition is to identify a developer who can build a new care home on the site that will be fit for purpose for the residents of St Day and the surrounding area.

“The aim was to redevelop the site while the current building remained open.

"However, feedback from potential bidders has been that the site cannot be developed while the existing service continues."

They said it was "due to the state of the building and significant expenditure required to ensure ongoing compliance with health and safety".

“Staff will now work with the NHS to assess residents and along with their families consider options for a suitable alternative care home placement in the area.

"Once all residents have moved to their new home Trefula will be closed. It is thought that this will be completed by March 2025.”

The spokesperson added: “Corserv will redeploy members of staff working at Trefula into other areas of the business wherever possible."