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Belper care home could be under threat in council cuts
A BELPER care home could be facing the axe after Derbyshire County Council announced cuts in social care for older people.
Ada Belfield House, on Field Lane, is one of the 27 authority-run residential homes in the county facing closure as part of a major change in social care.
Around two-thirds of the 27 are set to be cut when the council makes changes this autumn.
Cllr Charles Jones, cabinet member for adult care, said: "We have had to look closely at our current care homes for older people to asses whether they are fit for purpose and whether it is viable to keep them open.
"We will have to make some difficult decisions in the future and many of our current homes are not fit for purpose."
New state-of the-art care facilities have been planned in several locations around the county.
Ada Belfield, which has 25 beds for residents, has been assessed as good by the Care Quality Commission. Other county council homes have been judged as good or excellent, but Cllr Jones said the standard was due to the quality of care rather than the homes themselves.
Cllr Anne Western, leader of the council's opposition Labour group, dubbed the move "an unprecedented attack on older people".
She said: "By declaring that two thirds of the council's homes must close, Cllr Jones is effectively holding the axe over all of them. Who now will choose a county council home for themselves or their loved ones if there is the prospect of massive upheaval to come?
"Most cruelly of all, the people who thought they had a secure and comfortable home with Derbyshire County Council will now be worrying
whether their home will be one of those facing the chop."
The issue is set to be discussed by the council in a meeting next week. Cllr Western said the Labour group plans to contest the proposals, which also include plans to change home social care.
The daughter of a resident at Ada Belfield House, who declined to be named, told the News: "My mum came here on respite care two years ago and she liked it so much she didn't want to leave."
Belper Town councillor Jackie Cox has also previously spoken of how impressed she was with the running of the popular home, which she visited during her time as town mayor.
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Weather for Belper
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
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