Shropshire pensioner questions MP's claims on care
A pensioner has hit back over an MP's claim there is enough provision for respite and long-term care in north Shropshire despite the recent closure of three care homes.
John Dodson, who is a member of Wem, Whitchurch & District Senior Citizens Forum, said there are not enough places available in care homes and places are being sought across the country.
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson has said he would continue to monitor the situation after Gadlas Hall Nursing Home in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere became the latest in the region to announce it would be closing.
But he said there have been significant investments in the region with new care homes in places such as Oswestry and he felt there is adequate capacity looking ahead.
However, Mr Dodson described that statement as "questionable".
He added: "The clear answer was that there are not enough places and places are being sought across the county.
"So it is believed that the statement by Owen Paterson is questionable to say the least."
Legrand Nursing Home in Tilstock, near Whitchurch, announced in May it would close, leaving 39 employees out of work after financial struggles and recruitment issues.
Prior to that, Westlands Care Home in Wem was closed by managers at Coverage Care Services in March after it lost £25,000 a year for the last five years. Mr Dodson has also written to Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow about the closure of Westlands Care Homes.
He said: "It is likely that some of these residents will be dispersed around the county because there are not enough residential places locally to cover those being relocated.
"There is an equally bad trauma for family members who may not have the ability to travel across the county to see their relative in a different care home. There is not an over capacity of places for either respite or long term care in the north of Shropshire.
"There are known cases of organisations having to search across Shropshire to find a place."
On the issue of care homes, Mr Paterson said earlier this month: "I did raise this at my last health meeting, which I have every two months, and we agreed to keep an eye on it.
"At the time sadly the care home in Wem had just closed. But people there were found alternative accommodation.
"We agreed we would keep an eye on it and make sure the council reports back to us. There have been significant investments prior to that with new care homes in places such as Oswestry.
"We felt there is adequate capacity looking ahead."
