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Axe threat to 20 care home jobs
7:00am Thursday 28th August 2008
Comments (1)REDUNDANCIES could be on the cards for NHS workers as part of plans to cut services for elderly people with mental health problems in south Essex.
The NHS is set to launch a consultation over proposals to reduce the number of beds at care homes across south Essex from 142 to 122.
The care homes which could be affected are Mayfield Ward in Thurrock Hospital, Cherrydown Ward in Basildon Mental Health Unit, Mountnessing Court in Billericay, Rawreth Court and Clifton Lodge in Westcliff.
South West Essex Primary Care Trust, which is organising the proposed changes, has not yet decided which homes will have their beds cut.
The trust, acting on behalf of both PCTs in south Essex, insisted the move was because beds are currently under-used.
Respite care would not be affected by any proposed changes.
About 20 staff could also be affected and “redundancy cannot be ruled out” a report from the trust says.
But campaign group Southend’s Older People’s Assembly criticised the proposed changes.
Chairman Simon Morton said: “South East Essex has seen the cutting of services for many years, reduction of service beds in the mental health sector would be detrimental to our wellbeing.
“The Older People’s Assembly has always championed the need to keep pace with the service users and common to their needs. Our generation is one fifth of the UK population and if these cuts are implemented, where do we find the extras when needed?
“The PCTs must ensure those in need are not put at risk through what has always been a monetary issue.”
Consultation is due to start in December and the changes are likely to take place in May 2009.
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margrete, Rochford says...
11:50am Thu 28 Aug 08
e and competent person gradually to lose competencies. Witness the recent reports by Carol Thatcher on her mother's condition. This was first noticed about the time that Baroness Thatcher was 75 and she is now 83. Most people haven't got the resources to call in expert help, so where are they likely to go? There is still a widespread fear about that 'they will make me sell my home'.
We had a friend from church whose last couple of years of life was well-cared-for at Rawreth Court. This was a new purpose-built EMI facility and it was excellent. We visited him there and he didn't even know who we were. People reach a stage of not recognising family members, their spouse of 50 years, or as in Baroness Thatcher's case, forget that her husband is dead.