A POLITICAL row has blown up after seven pensioners died after leaving care homes which are threatened with closure.

Liberal Democrat social services spokesman Councillor Karimeh Foster has issued a statement saying that the former residents have died after moving because of fears about the future of Shadsworth House in Dunoon Drive and Laneside in Shorrock Lane, Blackburn.

But Labour social services chairman Councillor Sue Reid has said she is horrified at the deaths of residents being used in a party political way.

One of the elderly people was suffering from pneumonia, one died as the result of a heart condition and one following a history of health problems.

Councillor Foster released her statement as part of her party's campaign to save the two homes from closure, criticising Labour councillors for not attending a recent public meeting staged by campaigning relatives who want to see the homes saved from the axe.

Coun Foster said the council had not considered the welfare of the residents when proposing to close the homes.

She added: "I was given my information by the people in the campaign group. "I am a nurse and I know what the effect of moving old and frail people is.

"Old people panic and become worried and emotional and there is the chance they can go into shock and die in these circumstances.

"I am told that one elderly lady had a note from her GP saying that she should not be moved, but this was ignored."

"It is not my style to discuss things like this publicly but I believe the public should know."

But Councillor Reid blasted: "It is not my wish to debate the death of any of our residents in a party political way and I am horrified that any councillor would think it acceptable to exploit the private grief of a family to try and gain political points through the media in such a publicly cynical manner.

"There has been no increase in the number of deaths from either Laneside or Shadsworth when compared to our other residential homes."

"I must apologise to the relatives of these individuals for the undignified way that the death of their loved ones is being displayed in the media by someone purporting to care about them. "Sadly, five residents have passed on since leaving Laneside or Shadsworth after the proposals were announced. One of these elderly people died as a result of heart failure and two people died following a history of health problems.

"We have just heard that two former residents have also died. One resident died in hospital and another after moving to a nursing home for further specialist care.

"These two people would have needed to move regardless of the pending decision to close the homes as these two homes do not specifically offer nursing care.

The council has confirmed that figures for the 1997/8 period show that a similar number of people passed away in the two homes concerned when there was no threat of closure.

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