Swansea University denies move for care home if axe goes ahead
SWANSEA University says it has no plans to snap up a city care home if the doors are closed for good.
Rumours have been circulating among staff and union members that the university was looking at purchasing the Earlsmoor site, whose future is in doubt.
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Earlsmoor in Swansea
But the university said it had no plans, and the council stressed there was no truth whatsoever in the claims.
Question marks hang over the future of the respite centre following the decision to shake up care facilities in Swansea in June.
It follows an in-depth study which called for a move away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, and a move towards a more flexible service that could support people more effectively.
One campaigner said that he had been told by a council source there was already interest in the Earlsmoor site, but he was unable to offer any evidence to back up the claim, and Swansea Council said there was no truth in it. Unison bosses say they are considering launching a street petition this weekend to rally support to keep the facility open.
The proposed changes led to a clash between staff and council chiefs at the Civic Centre meeting, where claims were made that workers were left in the dark over proposals to develop a respite care unit with another care home — Rose Cross House, in Penlan.
Staff said they only found out about the plan from employees at Rose Cross House more than a week ago, and claimed there was nothing official confirmed by the local authority.
But the claims made were completely rejected by a Swansea Council spokesman, who said they had done all they could to keep staff involved.
A decision on care facilities is expected to be made in the new year.
In the past year alone, a total of £722,300 was spent on the running costs of the Brynmill facility.
Council figures underline that between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2008, a total of 136 older people relied on the respite services in Earlsmoor on 667 occasions — its occupancy levels stood at 56 per cent.
A Swansea University spokeswoman said it had not approached the local authority about Earlsmoor.
She added: "Swansea University has not expressed any interest in this site."
Meanwhile, a Swansea Council spokesman added: "There is absolutely no truth in Unison's claims about the future of the building at Earlsmoor.
"Nor is there any truth in their claim that staff at Earlsmoor have been kept in the dark about the future of respite care services in Swansea.
"The fact is no decision have been made about the future of Earlsmoor.
"The council has given no consideration whatever to any future uses for the building there."
elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk
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Clash over way Earlsmoor care home was dealt with
Carer says life will not be worth living if Earlsmoor closes
3 Comments
by jon, Uplands
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 7:38AM
“1 question, if people do get re located to newer, more suitable, facilities that provide better care and a greater standard of living - is that a bad thing?
in addition if above said happened what would be the point of keeping hold of a derealict site?”
by meirion, swansea
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 9:43PM
“So who is telling the truth, Who is not telling lies?Why is there so much non confirmation. Where are the die hard lib dems who normally comment on this thread? How much silver is left for this debacle of a council left to sell? Would it not be prudent to bring in a rule so that any councillor who makes a large financial error would have to pay by his pension and bonuses being revoked and the monies being payed back to the city?”
by Conker., St,Gabriels Walk.
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 9:18PM
“This article ring's a bell ?
Ah yes ! A couple of year's ago when two Political parties were arguing and bickering and answer's were demanded by Labour " Are the University going to have the Recreation Ground " ? The answer from the opposition " No " !
It was all too confusing for every one, until an individual phoned a local radio station to inform every one that it was a building developer that had their eye's on the Rec, and not the University !
After this radio broadcast this plan sort of backfired .”