Bryneithin care home closure confirmed: Campaigners to take legal action
RELATIVES of the 12 residents housed at Bryneithin Residential Care Home are set to launch a legal challenge, after the Vale Council confirmed the Dinas Powys home will close.
Vale Council cabinet members yesterday (December 2) agreed to shut the 19-bed home, angering relatives who had hoped for a reprieve.
The Dinas Powys facility was the only Vale home catering for people with dementia, but the Council deemed it ‘unfit for purpose’.
The cabinet deferred making a decision on the home’s future last month to enable relatives to consider the contents of the report and submit their comments.
The remaining residents will now be re-located to the Ty Dyfan home in Barry, with social services offering to assist families who wish their relatives to go elsewhere.
Sylvia Bowen, of the Keep Bryneithin Open Group, whose mother Kathleen Cooke is a resident, said: “The decision is a disgrace – I’ve got no faith in Social Services.
“We’ve been speaking to a solicitor who travels up and down the country fighting decisions like this.
“She will now start legal proceedings.”
A 12-week public consultation, launched in January, initially generated 150 responses about Bryneithin’s future.
The Vale Council blocked admissions and proposed options that included refurbishing the home, increasing the number of places and completely rebuilding.
Hafod Community Care will now modify the 32-bed residential Ty Dyfan facility in Gibbonsdown to make it ready for Bryneithin’s residents.
Vale cabinet member for social and care services, Cllr Dorothy Turner, said: “The Cabinet gave careful consideration to all the information, including the evidence from the public consultation process and the options appraisal. “We acknowledged the strength of feeling against closure, especially on the part of families of current residents.
“However, the options involving refurbishment were ruled out for a range of reasons, including that they would require residents to be relocated at least twice to allow for the work.
“Also, the costs would prevent the council from making effective use of the resources available to meet constantly growing levels of need for residential care places which can accommodate older people who suffer from dementia related illnesses.”
Phil Evans, Director of Social Services, added: “We know that relatives are very concerned about possible harm to their loved ones in transferring to another home.
“There are risks and the closure plan has been put together very carefully to reduce the impact upon the health and wellbeing of the Bryneithin residents, wherever possible.”
The matter will now be considered by Scrutiny at the Civic Offices, Barry, from 6pm on December 17.
