Closure plan for care homes

Elderly relatives at Whittaker House and Red Bank House face months of uncertainty under radical plans brought before town hall bosses.

They are proposing to close Whittaker House, in Whittaker Street, from next year, saying there is no money to bring it up to modern registration requirements.

Red Bank House, in Lowe Street, would be turned into a resource centre, with beds for respite and short stays. It would be a base for home care and support to sheltered housing schemes.

The proposals are among widespread changes to the council's homes which, if approved by councillors on June 19, will virtually wipe out provision of long-term accommodation in local authority homes across the borough.

Council bosses say the plans are not about saving money, but helping more people to live in their own homes for longer.

Bury has been criticised by both the Social Services Inspectorate and the District Auditor for relying too much on residential and nursing homes instead of community care.

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for social services, said: "Residential care will always be an option for some people, and there are enough beds in the public and private sectors in Bury to accommodate them.

"But this is about providing the right care in the right place at the right time."

Coun Connolly said that any savings made as a result of closures would be re-invested in better social services.

He accepted that people would be worried by the plans, and promised to handle their fears sensitively.

But he added: "Change is no longer an option, it has become a necessity.

"We have more care beds per head of population than any other local authority in Greater Manchester and we cannot sustain that indefinitely.

"We want to change now while we are in a position to make our own decisions rather than have change thrust upon us."

Consultations have begun with residents of the homes, their relatives, staff and trade union representatives.