Sutton dementia care home closure to be ‘catastrophic’

The closure of Sutton’s only specialist care home for dementia sufferers would be catastrophic for the borough’s elderly residents, according to research by a community organisation.

Sutton Local Involvement Network has submitted its response to the council’s proposal to close Oakleigh Care Centre in Benhill Avenue, after speaking to the home’s residents, their relatives, staff and community groups representing the elderly.

Janice McCullock, Sutton Link manager, said: “We have spoken to many of the people involved and there is real concern closing it would be catastrophic.”

Sutton Council announced last year it planned to shut the home, the last under its control and the only three-star care home in the borough, as a cost-cutting measure, and is due to make a decision on the matter at the March meeting of its executive.

The 12-page Link representation criticises a council focus on cost-cutting as opposed to maintaining quality of care, and raised concerns about future provision when the number of dementia sufferers is predicted to rise.

It said: “If vulnerable citizens are to be supported with dignity and respect and have choice and control over their care and support, then it is imperative a specialist dementia care service remain in Sutton.”

Bruce King, whose mother-in-law Margaret Whybrow, 80, is at the home said residents and their families were convinced a worse standard of care would be provided elsewhere.

Councillor Colin Stears, Sutton Council’s spokesman on adult social services and health, said: “Although the consultation has now closed, Sutton Link’s report will certainly be taken into account and I can assure all residents and their families, staff and interested groups that no decision has been taken and Oakleigh’s future is not a foregone conclusion.

“We are very proud of the care people receive in Oakleigh and the welfare of its residents will always be our prime concern.

“But our future plans for providing care for vulnerable residents are all about people, not buildings. We cannot expand the services we offer at Oakleigh or transfer it to a different provider because room sizes no longer meet current standards.

“We also have to be responsible and recognise that the same, high standard of care can be found locally at almost half the cost to the taxpayer.”