RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say after a council-run Brampton care home was threatened with closure.
On Tuesday (February 13) senior councillors will consider a report, Cumberland Care Review, which covers the intention to reshape residential provision delivered by Cumberland Care in order to refocus on dementia care, intermediate care and respite services.
It is recommended that they approve the launch of a public consultation on the potential closure of Moot Lodge residential care home in Brampton.
Councillor Mike Mitchelson (Brampton, Conservative) called for a public meeting because he felt residents should have a say and there was need for council-run adult social care provision in the town.
He said it was a shocking revelation which was devastating for people in Brampton - particularly the residents in Moot Lodge.
He added: "To suddenly find out that Moot Lodge is in danger of closing would leave a big hole in Brampton for local people.
"A lot of people who have ended up residing in Moot Lodge are from the community and the position of Moot Lodge in the centre of the town means they can still remain part of the community."
He said there was a definite need for council care in the town, and the surrounding area, which was quite populated.
"I think it's important that some care facility still remains in Brampton," he added.
Cllr Mitchelson said that it was important that residents had their say and took part in the council consultation.
He said: "What's important now is that the public get behind the campaigns to keep the home open and the executive and officers have agreed to a public meeting which will be announced in due time within Brampton.
"I would ask people to attend, raise the questions and give their opinion but, even if they are not attending the meeting, everyone that has a view within Brampton, I would ask them to write in during the consultation period and also sign the petition."
A Cumberland Council spokeswoman said: “Cumberland Council are reviewing in-house care provision delivered by Cumberland Care, to ensure services meet the needs of the residents of Cumberland now and in the future.
“As part of this review council officers are recommending a public consultation on the potential closure of Moot Lodge residential care home in Brampton, which faces challenges in providing high-quality dementia and intermediate care.
"The property has disability access constraints, and lacks amenities suited to dementia and intermediate care such as spacious communal areas, open-plan dining-living spaces, separate zones for complex needs, and dementia friendly outdoor space. Many of these factors cannot be resolved through investment.
“A thorough public consultation would be carried out and would inform any decision making in relation to the future of Cumberland Council’s Moot Lodge care home.
“The proposal to consult with the public on the future of Moot Lodge will be presented to Council Members for their consideration at the executive meeting on February 13.”
According to the report, Moot Lodge is an 18-bed residential care home in Brampton.
The report states: "The service is set over four floors and as such presents significant challenges in providing safe access for the physically disabled.
"This also means that providing Intermediate care within this setting would not be practical without a significant redesign, which is not considered to be feasible.
"Although centrally located in the market square, the service lacks any outside space for residents.
"Due to the design of the building and lack of outside space, the service is not suitable for people with dementia."
Two other care homes run by Cumberland Care - Burnrigg Court in Carlisle and Eskdale House in Longtown - have also been considered and the report states they are either newly-built or recently-refurbished.
It adds: "All three residential care homes currently hold a ‘Good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission.
"It is essential that the council’s internal care services are aligned with the wider strategic and financial objectives of the council.
"In order to achieve these objectives, it is proposed to reshape the residential care services delivered by Cumberland Care to ensure that they add value to the wider commissioning of care services delivered by the external market.
"It was identified that Moot Lodge could not be re-developed to meet these key priority areas for delivery."
Tuesday's public meeting of the council's executive committee will be at Copeland Centre in Whitehaven from 10.30am.
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