Fight to keep St Michael's Care Home open is lost
A CITY care centre faces almost certain closure – despite fears that vulnerable residents cannot be given the same quality service in their own homes.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is to shut the 30-bed rehabilitation centre at St Michael's, in Chell, to save an initial £883,000 as part of £21.1 million cuts.
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THREAT: St Michael’s Care Home in Hewitt Street, Chell.
A scrutiny committee responsible for examining the plans voted in favour of closure. But two members of the ruling Labour group refused to support it.
The city council says it can provide a better and cheaper rehabilitation service in people's own homes and that half of the 60 staff affected may be employed in the new home-based service.
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St Michael's helps vulnerable patients rehearse basic skills before returning home, usually after a spell in hospital.
Labour's Debra Gratton, who was censured for walking out of last year's budget vote, joined independent councillors Jackie Barnes and Ann James to vote against closure.
Mrs Gratton said: "I'm not convinced it can make a cost saving in the long run with the information officers have provided.
"They haven't convinced me this service will be better in the community.
"The work they do is very important. You don't necessarily get fit when you are medically fit.
"If somebody has broken their hip or had an accident they have to relearn how to stand up, how to walk alone, how to get upstairs. It doesn't come naturally.
"They have access to 24-hour support, occupational therapy and physios and I don't see how the same can be done in people's homes."
Fellow Labour councillor Debbie Wheeldon also abstained, but the cut was passed by four votes to three.
Olwyn Tams, who has collected a signature of more than 1,000 names against the closure, told the committee: "Vulnerable people have very different social care needs which can't always be met safely without 24-hour supervision.
"Closing St Michael's will be a false economy and in another 12 months it will cost the council dearly.
"Some of the people who go into St Michael's need 24-hour care and the cost of providing that in people's homes will be much greater."
The committee heard from Jenny Jones, aged 50, who has been at St Michael's since suffering a brain aneurysm while living with a friend in Norton.
She said: "My friend's home is not appropriate for my needs and, without St Michael's, I would have had nowhere else to go.
"I have still got a long way to go, but what I have witnessed in that centre is absolutely outstanding care.
"The work they are doing is fantastic and those carers deserve to keep their jobs and for that centre to stay open."
Christine Whitehead, assistant director of adult social care, said: "A lot of people don't need 24-hour services and we will make sure there is 24-hour support for those who need it.
"St Michael's has provided a good service but it's not cost effective. It's very expensive and by investing some of that money we can provide as good and I would argue a better service for people in their own homes."
7 Comments
by mole10
Monday, January 28 2013, 10:44AM
“What a stupid comment:
'A lot of people don't need 24 hour care'
250,000 of us don't need any care whatsoever.
Some require some care.
Some require more more care.
Some require 24/7 care.
This comittee was lied to.”
by Robnoxious
Sunday, January 27 2013, 9:11PM
“How gratifying that must have been, do the right thing and jump ship. That is if you can stop the family from allowing you to. I'm not talking about Pervez, Time to take Garnering Leave. Be your own person. Any of the family go to these places you want to close, we all need to get out or receive care sooner or later,should we live that long. The real investment.”
by FFDP1
Sunday, January 27 2013, 4:18PM
“They could have joined Robs daddy outside the Civic Center with 20 Regal and a 69p lighter. I say the Debs stay, and let's 'get it on' within the party racks. It'll be fun.”
by FFDP1
Sunday, January 27 2013, 4:08PM
“No way should this be happening and I congratulate council members Gratton and Wheeldon for removing themselves from this dreadful unneeded cut. No way can the work of this center begin in a persons home by the privet sector, it needs to be put in place within center like St. Michael's. I fear, with the UHNS focus on shorter hospital stays that people will be forced into going home far to soon and left with sub standard care. Its alright the powers that be saying its giving choice within there care package, but how is this so. They will soon find out its not cost effective.”
by Robnoxious
Saturday, January 26 2013, 8:15PM
“,They can't be asking the staff that work at St Michaels of their opinion. I know a few people that work their. It isn't what they are saying. But what do they know,they only work there. When does money come first before care.? This Labour Council, SHAME ON YOU. as in the name CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE . Also, abstaining is a cowards way out, it means nothing, in fact it makes you look worse knowing it could have changed the vote. COWARDS.”
by allhan1
Saturday, January 26 2013, 1:38PM
“I absolutely sincerley hope that in their later years of life that ALL those who have voted to close ANY of the local care homes, including this one, get the care they deserve.
The way that this council has disgracefully let down the elderly and vunerable in this city beggars belief.
To suggest that elderly persons in need of care can better get it at home with a carer coming in to them 2-3-4 times daily for 15 mins at a time is simple stupidity.
The only reason that or private residential care can be cheaper is because either the care is minimal or the private care home, which has to turn a profit, cuts corners.
Councillors, the only people you are fooling is yourselves.”
by BucknallMel
Saturday, January 26 2013, 11:51AM
“What a surprise. May I suggest that the Labour councillors who disagreed with this show the same integrity as Andy Lilley and leave the Labour Party?”
by BucknallMel
Saturday, January 26 2013, 11:51AM
“What a surprise. May I suggest that the Labour councillors who disagreed with this show the same integrity as Andy Lilley and leave the Labour Party?”