Fears move could kill 103-year-old woman if New Mills care home closes

Kath Mulligan - whose mum has been a resident at the home since going into care four years ago - says she was ‘gobsmacked’ to receive a letter in the post warning of the closure.

The 30-bed home is one of seven Derbyshire facilities set to be permanently shut primarily due to its badly rundown building which is no longer fit for purpose.

In a letter sent to relatives of care home residents last week Derbyshire County Council wrote how the ageing building would need rewiring to bring it up to modern standards.

They added that even if repairs were carried out ‘some of our homes are no longer fit for the purpose of providing high-quality care’.

Kath, 71, told how her mother - who she did not want to name as the centenarian still did not know about the plans - could face being moved as early as June next year.

She said: “Mum is so mentally-alert - so I honestly do think when she hears about this she will turn her face to the wall and give up - it could kill her.

“They say part of the reason is there are no en-suite bathrooms but the vast majority of residents at Goyt Valley House are not capable of toileting themselves anyway.

“It’s the staff who make the place - they are absolutely wonderful and we think of them as family.”

Kath’s mother moved into Goyt Valley House four years ago after breaking her hip during a fall.

The independent-minded great grandmother-of-two lived alone in her own home and regularly baked for the family at the time.

Kath, a retired admin worker, says she still has no idea where her mum might be moved to however she fears for residents with elderly relatives who cannot drive.

She said: “We are all extremely worried about the impact this will have on our parents.

“This is the only council-run home in New Mills and if they are moved out to Buxton or Chapel-en-le-Frith they are not the easiest places to get to.”

Kath has branded the council’s proposals to shut the homes ‘shortsighted’.

She said: “They say they are moving towards care in the community and I’m fine with that but there are cases where that is just not going to be feasible.

“I just want to know why the buildings had been allowed to get into this kind of state.”

Derbyshire County Council says the plans will be consulted on should cabinet agree to them during a meeting on Thursday.

Meetings will be held at Goyt Valley House for residents and relatives on February 4 between 2-4pm and February 18 between 6-8pm.

A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council said: “We understand this will be an anxious time for everyone who may be affected by these proposals.

“If cabinet agrees to the consultation going ahead when they meet on Thursday we’d like to reassure people that no decisions will be taken until we have heard everyone’s views and taken these in to account.

“We will do everything we can to support our residents and their relatives and carers during this time and would like to reassure them that their care will not be compromised in any way.

“Depending on the outcome of the consultation we’d carry out a full assessment of all our residents’ needs and ensure they and their relatives are fully supported to make the best choices for their future.”