EXCLUSIVE By Keir Mudie

Last updated 11:39, Friday, 16 May 2008

A SCHEME costing £250m, the largest investment in Cumbrian healthcare, is poised to revolutionise treatment in the region.

The proposal by the Primary Care Trust to improve health and adult social care will be submitted to health bosses next week.

The funding would consist of £80m from the Government with the rest of the money coming from a mixture of public and private finance.

Six new care homes would be built on sites next to community hospitals, as well as massive spending on improvements in other areas.

Care homes would be built at sites in Wigton, Penrith, Brampton, Keswick, Alston and Millom where they would be sited alongside cottage hospitals. The PCT has also indicated it supports the creation of new residential care facilities – meaning homes could be built in other areas of the county. The proposals were drawn up with input from Cumbria County Council.

Bill Wearing, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “Taken as a whole, the bid sets out a potential roadmap for massive investment in health and social care in communities right across Cumbria.

“The submission of this outline bid to the Department of Health keeps the door open on an important funding option for the six new homes which councillors can decide upon later in the year. Staff in council-run homes are well trained and provide the best care they can, but the homes themselves – the bricks and mortar – often let them down.

“Residents and their possessions are often squeezed into cramped bedrooms with up to seven people sharing one bathroom. This is not acceptable in this day and age when people expect and demand more privacy.”

He said council staff would move with residents to new homes, which would offer residential and nursing care in the same place.

“People living in Cumbria’s council-run residential homes have to move out if their care needs rise above a certain level.”

“New homes would also have larger rooms with en-suite bathrooms that respect people’s dignity and independence and bedrooms for couples.”

Following a decision by the county council cabinet in April, officers began to undertake preparatory work, and helped the PCT produce the plans known as a Strategic Outline Case (SOC).

The council carried out its own consultation which identified the need to build homes for older people near community hospitals.

The county council will consider the results of its consultation on June 10.