We were right!

THE two Swindon care homes under threat of closure are Lease Hill and Pinetrees.

Officers have identified the centres currently home to 49 elderly residents in a report due to come before councillors next week.

The report unveiled to the public yesterday brings to an end months of uncertainty and worry for care home residents, many of whom are extremely frail, and their relatives.

And it confirms last month's report in the Evening Advertiser which revealed the homes under threat.

If the plans are approved by the council's cabinet on Wednesday, residents in Pinetrees and Lease Hill will be cared for in existing homes, where the council says there are surplus places, and in private nursing homes.

The average age of those being moved is between 85 and 87.

Coun Ian Dobie (Con, Haydon Wick), lead member for social services, said: "It is a difficult decision at any time to close homes where people have lived for a number of years.

"We will take a lot of care in finding alternative accommodation, and have a surplus of places in the other homes.

"We will assess levels of frailty, and make sure each individual is properly placed and give them a choice."

Between them, the two homes employ nearly 110 people.

Coun Dobie said: "Staff will be offered employment in the remaining homes and there is no question of anyone being made redundant."

A consultation process was set in motion in November to identify which two out of Swindon's six care homes should be axed.

The closures are needed so the council can upgrade the remaining four and bring them into line with new care home standards.

The other four are: Wick House, Liden (48 beds); Whitbourne House, Park South (40 beds); Langton House, Wroughton (38 beds); Fessey House, Haydon Wick (41 beds).

To upgrade all the homes to meet the National Care Standards the council would need to invest about £13 million by 2007.

By closing Pinetrees, which has 40 beds, and Lease Hill, which has 35, the authority claims it can save about £4 million. Neither homes is currently full.

Keith Skerman, the head of social services, said: "The upgrade is needed because many of the rooms at the two homes are too small."

The closure will take the council's total number of beds down from 244 to 168.

But Mr Skerman is confident that all residents will be accommodated, adding that private companies are likely to open homes in Swindon in the future.

He said: "A private company has plans for the Princess Margaret Hospital site and a not-for-profit company is also interested in developing a new home in the town.

"We will make sure all residents receive the appropriate duty of care."

But the decision was seized on by Labour councillors.

Coun Jim D'Avila (Lab, Moredon) described it as a gross act of vandalism.

He claims the homes were chosen because they can be easily sold for development.

He said: "Lease Hill is a home with a high reputation for caring and looking after the elderly and needs investment, not demolition.

"We will be putting forward an argument to retain it as a provider of excellent care for the future.

"I believe they have chosen those two because the land they sit on is more valuable."

It is anticipated that one of the homes will be closed within four months. The closure of the second may take longer while arrangements are made with private care homes to take on the residents.

'Move will cause lot of stress'

Michael Glastonbury whose 94-year-old mother Lillian lives at Pinetrees is furious at the decision.

His frail mother, who has had two hip operations, has lived there for 15 months.

Mr Glastonbury, 71, of Derwent Drive, Stratton, fears his mother will be traumatised by the move to a new home.

He said: "She gets confused easily and, like many elderly people, she likes to feel settled.

"The move will cause a lot of stress, and upset her and there are a lot of people like her in there.

"The real problem is that the home has suffered from years of neglect.

"It's a nice location, with a lots space, I expect they will get a lot of cash for it."

Tamash Lal