Newly elected Erewash and Mid-Derbyshire MPs co-sign letter against care home closure plans

Both MPs elected to seats covering the Erewash borough in the July 4th General Election have, along with a number of other Derbyshire MPs, co-signed a letter to the County Council Leader to protest and appeal against plans to close care homes and day centres.

Jonathan Davies, MP for Mid-Derbyshire, which covers the west and south-west of the borough, and Adam Thompson, MP for the Erewash constituency, were two of nine to add their name to the House Of Commons headed letter addressed to County Councillor Barry Lewis at County Hall in Matlock.

The recently built Bennerley Fields complex in Cotmanhay and the recently refurbished Briar Close Care Home in Borrowash are under threat, whilst Lacemaker Court Day Centre in Long Eaton also faces an uncertain future.

Derbyshire County Council has launched a public consultation on plans to consider the undecided future of a total of eleven (of 16) residential homes along with eight day centres for elderly people, with the expectation that closure could save over £6.5m in total, in order to help balance a budget deficit estimated at over £39m for 2024-25.

The authority has referenced a struggle due to Government funding having been reduced, the impact of the pandemic plus the cost of living crisis, high rates of inflation, and an increased demand on public services.

Earlier in 2024, the Conservative led authority rejected opposition calls to carry out further investigation work before making any decisions, with a motion tabled by Labour being rejected amid a tense meeting held in late May.  Protests were also staged outside Derbyshire County Council headquarters.

Under an alternative proposal, whilst Bennerley Fields and Briar Close care homes would still close, Lacemaker Court Day Centre in Long Eaton would remain open but others in the county, mostly in the Peak District and North Derbyshire, would close.

Although Councillor Lewis stated back in late May that no decisions had been made, despite a need to deliver savings, the undated House of Commons letter expressed 'deep concern' about the proposals and that the letter had been written on a 'matter of urgency'.

It continued: "Having spent the past few weeks speaking to users of these facilities and their families, we are very concerned about the lack of information given to residents on the status of their care and the council's inability to communicate a clear plan on viable alternatives.  We have all received comments and feedback from our constituents and we know this is an issue that Derbyshire residents care deeply about.

"We are therefore concerned that the consultation has been deeply flawed and that the County Council's proposals do not enjoy the confidence of Derbyshire people.  We believe that a decision to close these vital local services, which would have devastating impact on so many lives, based on a flawed consultation, would have serious consequences.  No reasonable public body should risk making a decision in circumstances such as these."

The letter concluded by calling on Councillor Lewis to reconsider, stressing that it was not too late and that the MPs who had signed the letter were ready to work and speak with him to identify alternatives to the closure programme, and referenced the new Labour Government's declaration and commitment to improving the quality of care experienced by vulnerable elderly people.

It concluded: "These services are highly rated by regulators for the quality and safety of the care they provide to people, and we cannot be assured [that] a private provider would continue to meet the same standards.  We seek a meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss this matter.  We are keen to gain clarity on this issue and we hope you will respond to our request promptly."

It is not known whether Councillor Lewis has seen the letter and therefore, there is, to date, no record of any response to it.