Families of care home residents in protest over privatisation plans

The GMB union joined with the families of relatives in the Fife Council-run homes to highlight their disapproval of the plans, which were discussed at the emergency meeting.

Under the plans, ten care homes will be sold off, meaning 300 residents will be affected and staff would be made redundant.

Families of care home residents in protest over privatisation plans

The council employs 500 care staff, with many expected to lose out on jobs should the plans to privatise the homes go ahead.

Earlier this month the plans were rubber-stamped at a social work committee, which has resulted in opposition councillors calling an emergency meeting on Tuesday, claiming that the committee’s decision was not valid.

The meeting, held in Glenrothes, resulted in further discussion of the plans being postponed until another council meeting next month.

Council leader Peter Grant said the social work committee decision is “right for the people of Fife”.

He added: “It ensures that elderly people who need to go into residential care will be able to live out their days in a safe, secure and stimulating environment, supported by the best residential care in Scotland.

“I understand the concerns that families will have if there’s any change at all to the arrangements for looking after their loved ones.  The sad fact is that those concerns have been made infinitely worse by a deliberate campaign of scaremongering by councillors who will stop at nothing to advance their own political careers.

“I now call upon councillors of all political affiliations to accept that the decision has been made and it is now the responsibility of all of us to support the council’s social care professionals in implementing the decision.”