Another Derbyshire care home proposed for closure

Derbyshire County Council has begun a 12-week consultation on the future of Long Eaton’s Lacemaker Court Residential and Community Care Centre, which it proposes to close and relocate residents to a new extra care facility.

The local authority has been in favour of the extra care model for several years now, green-lighting several purpose-built facilities that councillors hope will provide a more flexible and modernised form of care.

Cabinet member for adult social care, Clare Neill, looks to reassure any concerned parties, saying: “If, following the consultation, a decision is made to close Southlands, we will work closely with residents and their families to find them the right place to live.

“One of the options would be a move to the new Lacemaker Court development in Long Eaton, which we are building with partners.

“The building will be modern, purpose-built and meet our high standards and it would be able to accommodate people with a wide range of care needs.”

Lacemaker Court is a £10m development due to open by the summer of 2015, but relocating care home residents, especially frail older people, remains a controversial issue which many campaigners have warned can lead to shorter life spans because of the stress and anxiety involved.

The consultation closes Sunday 24 August, with a firm decision expected in October. Although the quality of care at Southlands is found to be of a high standard, the council is concerned that the building itself is close to being unfit for purpose.