Fife care homes: MSP calls for clarity
Fife Council has been asked to provide more clarity on whether care homes are still being considered for closure.
Claire Baker, the Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, believes serious questions remain over proposals which she claims could “potentially” still lead to the closure of a number of council care homes in Fife.
The council is consulting on its in-house residential, respite and day care services for older people and whether or not to pursue its £40 million care home replacement programme in its entirety.
Last week, the council agreed to reject a plan which would have seen all 10 of its care homes closed and residents transferred to places in the private and voluntary sector.
However, doubts still exist over seven of the homes after the council agreed to consult with a view to “replacing existing provision as and when suitable alternative provision becomes available.”
Mrs Baker said, “Serious questions exist around these proposals from the SNP, which could still lead to the closure of the council’s care homes. The fact that a consultation has been put forward suggests that everything is still up in the air.
“If that is not the case, Fife Council need to say so.”
In her letter to Fife Council, Mrs Baker wrote, “I would be grateful if you could clarify what the terms of the consultation will be, what format it will follow and how the conclusion will influence any decisions being made around future provision of existing council-run residential care for older people in Fife.”
The chairman of Fife Council’s social work and health committee, Tim Brett, said, “We have a strong and demonstrated history of caring for the most vulnerable people of Fife. The reshaping of older people services proposals are subject to consultation with staff, service users, their families, external partners and all who use our services, including day care and respite, and I can reassure that a clear and robust course of consultation is now being taken forward by Fife’s social work services.”
