Clash over way Earlsmoor care home plan was dealt with
STAFF and union leaders have clashed with council officers over the handling of proposed closure for a Swansea care facility.
Councillors have decided to accept a number of controversial recommendations over the future of care in the city. But workers say they felt they were kept in the dark as to what would happen when the doors of Earlsmoor shut for good.
Although, a meeting was held between both sides over the issue, it has since emerged Swansea Council is looking at the possibility of developing a respite care unit within another care home — Rose Cross House, in Penlan.
Union bosses confirmed Earlsmoor staff only found out about the plan from employees at Rose Cross House about a week ago, and that there was nothing official confirmed by the local authority.
But a spokesman for Swansea Council said it had done its utmost to make sure staff were as informed as possible.
The authority said at yesterday's meeting of the health, social care and well being overview board in the Civic Centre, if the plan for Rose Cross House went ahead, it would be created along the lines of Ty Waunarlwydd respite centre that deals with dementia patients.
The proposal forms part of the shake-up of care services.
Following a decision by the board to adopt the recommendations outlined in the review of respite care, exploring alternative options to Earlsmoor, a heated exchange broke out.
One member of staff branded the meeting held over the closure proposals as "rubbish" and said it would be better "if you (the authority) were honest and not two-faced about things."
She also raised concerns with officers as to what the future would hold for staff at the Brynmill respite unit. The situation led to branch secretary Nicky Symons, of Unison, to call for a series of meetings to be held.
He added: "We are going to hold a meeting next week. I believe there has been a communication breakdown.
"Of course, there needs to be alterations to the buildings but what we believe is the service in Earlsmoor can continue."
A decision is yet to have been taken over the future of Earlsmoor and will not be made until the New Year.
A council spokesman said it was not true that staff had been kept in the dark.
He said: "Consultations about the future of respite care services have been taking place for more than a year.
"Unison has been consulted and so have staff.
"It was not possible to be specific with Earlsmoor staff at the time because the manager, staff and residents at Rose Cross had not been consulted. However, following a meeting at Rose Cross it was agreed that one of the existing eight-bed units could be an option to be transformed into a high-quality respite care unit with en suite facilities.
elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk
6 Comments
by Ray Welsby, Clase Morriston
Saturday, December 05 2009, 7:29PM
“The true reason the council is closing the childrens homes down is because they are strapped for cash. Councillor Holley as told the people of Swansea he as got to cut services, so the vunerable will suffer whilst councillors profit. The question the people of Swansea should ask why are councillors stil having free tickets to the Liberty stadium at council taxpayers expense and how much revenue as the council received from the Liberty stadium that should be going into the public purse. Because this money would help to keep these homes open, so come on councillor Holley publish the figures after all you are an elected person paid from the public purse.”
by Bob, Treboeth
Friday, December 04 2009, 4:35PM
“Steve Jones,Uplands-I quite agree that there is no point in having schools in areas where the number of schoolchildren has dropped below a viable number,but our local community school has 700 pupils and is under threat of closure.The reason for this can only be to "balance the books" and to hell with the kids.Regarding the elderly,why should they be pushed to the cheaper end of town? they have also paid their taxes and deserve more.”
by Steve Jones, Uplands
Friday, December 04 2009, 12:04PM
“Bob, Treboeth - the administration is actually showing it's concern for the people of Swansea by closing facilities that are no longer needed and thereby saving the taxpayers of Swansea money. There is no point having a respite care home in an expensive area of town - it's just a waste of money. And there's also no point having schools in aeas where the number of schoolchildren has dropped below a viable number.
Mike, Swansea - the people do have names. It's just that EP staff are too lazy to find out what they are. That's why we have another rehashed story. You'll hear this one a few more times in various forms.”
by Bob, Treboeth
Thursday, December 03 2009, 8:31PM
“Once again this administration is showing it's lack of concern for the people of Swansea,first it was the young with it's school closures and now the elderly,roll on the next election”
by m.pryce-jones, Swansea
Thursday, December 03 2009, 7:27PM
“As this is just a possibility nothing should have been put forward as definate! The older the population the more need for respite care centers and well equipt premises to be able to give treatment of this scale.
Penlan maybe able to support eight extra beds but what about the existing tenants? i.e the more able bodied will have to share with acute cases and thus have the care they now experience being reduced.
If these people had not contributed in the first place by their ni we would be totally in the mire.
The lib dems have ruined a lot of services just to try to show swansea as a continental clone.
If people are happy and well looked after they are less likely to become dependent. European care is a lot better than that provided here”
by Mike, Swansea
Thursday, December 03 2009, 4:04PM
“Lots of people in this story apparently without names. Doesn't anyone go on the record any more?”