Future of elderly care facilities left uncertain

The future of 10 elderly care facilities in Lancashire has been left uncertain after the council announced it was to take more time to consider the results of a public consultation.

Lancashire County Council launched a review into five care homes and five day centres in October, and previously said recommendations would be presented back in February.

The consultation into the facilities, which were described as being in poor condition, received 1,600 responses meaning the council has now pencilled in next spring to make their decision.

Council Leader Stephen Atkinson stressed "all options" are on the table.

Reform councillor Atkinson disagreed that the delayed decision to the eight-week consultation meant more worry for families.

He instead pointed the finger at other councillors for "creating fear" around the matter, along with those who "said things are going to happen that aren't".

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I'm upset for the families if they are fearful but I think that doesn't lie at our door, it lies at the door of some of the opposition councillors who've really politicised this, which they shouldn't have done".

The BBC has previously heard worry from families who use the care homes, with one woman pleading with the council to not make her homeless at aged 92.

Atkinson conceded the council "could have done things better" over the consultation and added they will now take longer to analyse the responses due to the volume of replies.

The delay has been met with criticism from other councillors in the region.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Pendle Council Leader David Whipp called the move "a disgrace".

"The Reform administration has reached a new low, they ought to be facing up to the monumental mistake in October when they agreed to consult on closing care homes."

The Liberal Democrat councillor added this would lead to "tragic circumstances" and urged the Reform-led council to let "people live in peace instead of making their lives a misery".

In August, a report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the area's adult social care services "require improvement".

The care homes under scrutiny are Favordale in Colne, Grove House in Adlington, Milbanke in Kirkham, Thornton House in Thornton Cleveleys and Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors.

The day centres being looked at are Byron View in Colne; The Derby Centre in Ormskirk, Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham, Teal Close in Thornton Cleveleys and Vale View in Lancaster.

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