Have your say on proposals to close four residential care homes in Derbyshire

County council-run homes proposed for closure by the authority are Red House, Chesterfield, The Willows in Ripley, The Glebe in Alfreton and Hillcrest in Kirk Hallam.

The 12-week consultation runs until Wednesday, September 16.

The county council has been planning to change the way it delivers accommodation, care and support to older people since 2012 when a strategy was unveiled to close up to 20 of its residential care homes and replace them with extra care apartments.

Under the 2012 plan only four county council-run residential care homes would have remained open.

The plan was paused in 2013 following a change of administration at the council, and a review of how the council provides accommodation, care and support to older people was started, with a view to keeping more county council-run care homes open.

The result of the review led to new proposals which, if agreed, would see up to 18 county council-run care homes staying open.

Councillor Paul Smith said: “The consultation has been running since June but there may still be people who haven’t yet had their say. If they want their views to be considered they must act now.

“Our aim is to keep the majority of our residential care homes open where we can, as we know people value the high quality residential care we provide.

“It’s important to emphasise that these are proposals and no decisions have been made. That’s why it’s important that people give us their views while the consultation is open.””

Six short-term beds at the Ecclesfold Resource Centre in Chapel-en-le-Frith are also proposed for closure under the plan.

Residents at the care homes and their relatives have had the opportunity to comment on the proposals during face to face meetings with consultation officers.

People can register their views on the care homes closure proposal online at:

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/redhouse

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/glebe

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/willows

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/hillcrest

To log your opionions on the proposed closure of six short-term beds at Ecclesfold Resource Centre, visit www. derbyshire.gov.uk/ecclesfold.

People can also phone county council consultation officer Helen Greatorex on 01629 531063, write to the Stakeholder Engagement Team, Adult Care, Derbyshire Dales Area Office, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG or email: [email protected]

When the consultation period ends, all the views received will be taken into account as a report is prepared for consideration by the council’s cabinet.