We have had some good coverage in both the Northern Echo and the Evening Gazette along with the TS 17 blog online at the Gazette.. 

Battle to save Thornaby care home

Posted by Chris - administrator on November 26, 2007 8:16 AM |

RESIDENTS hoping to save Thornaby’s last council-run care home are meeting again on Monday.

Village Park Residents’ Association launched a campaign to show public support for Parkview Residential Home and are gathering signatures against its potential closure.

A report on the issue is expected to go before Stockton Council’s Cabinet next month. Officers claim that the home has low occupancy and to bring the building up to current standards would cost around £273,000.

But, at a previous meeting of the association, some residents and care home staff members accused the council of a deliberate bed block.

Since then, evidence has been gathered and is expected to be presented at Monday’s meeting at 6.30pm in the Robert Atkinson Centre on Thorntree Road, Thornaby.

Peter Brennan, secretary of the association said: “The meeting will give us the chance to update everyone on the evidence and examine the present situation.”

Stockton Council has stressed no decision has been made on the future of the home and a review of services is currently under way.
Comments (1)
kath hall wrote...

I am sorry to here about the the possible closure of parkview nursing home i have the great pleasure of v
isiting two ladies who are residents it is in a lovely position it seems that our local council can waste money on firework displays and other frivolous things but when it comes to our olderly people it doesnt seem to matter this nursing home as served the needs of those who need care for many years.

Posted by: kath hall | November 26, 2007 5:24 PM

Protest over Thornaby care home future

Posted by Chris - administrator on November 16, 2007 11:55 AM | Permalink

ACCUSATIONS of a deliberate “bed block” on a threatened council-run care home were aired at a heated public meeting.

There are currently 15 permanent residents living at the 32-bed Parkview Residential Home in Thornaby.

Stockton Council, which has described the low occupancy as “ongoing”, is refusing to rule out closing it for good.

Staff and residents’ relatives at last night’s meeting at Thornaby Pavilion argued that the care home has been emptied intentionally, stating that applications have been turned away for some time.

One member of staff told the meeting: “They say there has only been a bed block for the past four months - it’s been going on for ages. They have slowly dwindled it down and we have seen it coming for ages.”

Another said there is a waiting list for the care home.

“We have had people applying to come in right up until a fortnight ago,” she said.

The council claims that to bring the building up to current standards would cost around £273,000. This would pay for improvements such as new lifts and en-suite bathrooms.

“The care there is second to none and £273,000 is chicken feed if it means keeping it open.”

Another member of staff referred to a recent inspection of the home by the Commission for Social Care.

“Why is such a song and dance being made about lifts and en suites when this report said there were no recommendations for improvements? It’s managed as it is for 50 years so why change it now?”

The meeting was set up by Village Park Residents’ Association which has launched a campaign to show public support for the home, one of only two council-run centres left in the borough, and is circulating a petition.

The issue is expected to go before Cabinet next month but chairman of the association, Peter Brennan, agreed to write to members of the council and ask for their views prior to the meeting.

Campaigners also agreed to try to gather evidence from people who have been turned away from the home in recent months.

James Wharton, a lawyer and prospective Conservative MP, said: “If they are going to say that there aren’t enough people to fill the home, then we have got to get the proof that they have been turning people away.”

A spokeswoman for Stockton Council said: “First and foremost it must be stressed no decision has been made. Officers from Stockton Council have met with staff at Parkview to clarify the situation.

“As a local authority we continually review our services to ensure they meet the needs of the people we serve. A review is presently under way and a report will be taken to Cabinet in December.”

 

From the Northern Echo
Campaigners rally to preserve care home
By Karen Westcott         

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to save a pensioners' care home from closure.

People in Thornaby said they would do everything in their power to save Parkview Nursing Home from the axe later this year.

Stockton Borough Council has admitted that the 50-year-old home may be closed down, but said no firm decision had yet been taken.
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Peter Brennan, secretary of the Village Park Residents' Association, in Thornaby, said it would be a sin to close the building, which is home to 14 pensioners, including one resident who is more than 100.

"Our group is very concerned about the future of Parkview home, and even more concerned about the rumours that a bed block has been put in place, preventing new people from moving in there," he said.

"Rumours have been allowed to get into the public domain before the facts, which is creating a lot of anxiety.

"What logic is there behind closing this down? To the people who live there, it's not a home, it is their home. We are very concerned about the effects on the residents if they are forced to move out."

Mr Brennan said Parkview was the last remaining council-run home in Thornaby and provided a vital service to families.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said: "This has always been an excellent home. The residents are vulnerable people with families who usually live close by and who can support and visit them.

"I would be incredibly disappointed if it closed, but, if the consultation comes to that conclusion, I will have no option but to accept it."

However, she said as it was the last remaining council home in the borough, she believed residents would opt to save it.

"I find it very difficult to believe that residents would not want to keep that home open,"

she said.

Borough councillor Tina Large, who is also chairwoman of Thornaby Town Council, said she would be asking questions.

She said: "We would clearly want to see the nursing home remain."

A council spokesman confirmed the issue was being looked at.

He said: "No decision has yet been made about Parkview residential home.

"No one is currently being admitted while we review the service.

This review will be considered by cabinet in the next month, with a recommendation that we have a period of wide consultation."

The residents' association has organised a public meeting to discuss the issue on Thursday, at 6.30pm, in the Pavillion Lecture Room in Thornaby town centre.

11:23am Friday 9th November 2007

Bed block claims in home row

Nov 16 2007 Evening Gazette

Accusations of a deliberate bed block on a threatened council-run care home were aired at a public meeting.

There are currently 15 permanent residents living at the 32-bed Parkview Residential Home in Thornaby.

Stockton Council, which has described the low occupancy as ongoing is refusing to rule out closing it for good.

Fears for Thornaby care home

Nov 14 2007 by James Johnston, Evening Gazette

FEARS are growing for the future of Thornaby’s last remaining council-run care home.

Stockton Council are refusing to rule out axing Parkview Residential Home, on Thorntree Road, amid increasing concern among staff, elderly residents and local community groups that it is about to close.

Peter Brennan, secretary of the Village Park Residents Association, said: “We first started hearing rumours about it closing a few weeks ago.

“They didn’t seem to go away and nobody came out and denied it.

“All we’re waiting for is the official confirmation.”

The Thornaby-based group has now launched a campaign to show public support for the home, one of only two council-run centres left in the borough, and is circulating a petition.

A public meeting tomorrow has been arranged, which representatives from the council are expected to attend.

“We want everybody in the area to know for certain what is happening,” said Mr Brennan. “The people at the care home deserve more respect.”

There are currently 15 permanent residents living at the 32-bed home and the low occupancy is described as “ongoing”. Major building works are also required to bring the building up to current standards.

But Thornaby councillor Steve Walmsley, pictured, claimed care homes in the public sector have been allowed to deteriorate to enable local councils to close them.

He said: “The sad fact is that when they close down care homes, the increase in fatalities are incredible; you are talking about elderly people losing their homes here.”

A spokeswoman for Stockton Council said: “While no decisions have been made about specific provisions in the borough, as a local authority we continually review our services to ensure they meet the needs of the people we serve.”

• The public meeting will be held in the lecture room at Thornaby Pavilion, Thornaby Town Centre, tomorrow at 7pm.
 

Protest over care home future

Nov 16 2007 by Naomi Corrigan, Evening Gazette

ACCUSATIONS of a deliberate “bed block” on a threatened council-run care home were aired at a heated public meeting.

There are currently 15 permanent residents living at the 32-bed Parkview Residential Home in Thornaby.

Stockton Council, which has described the low occupancy as “ongoing”, is refusing to rule out closing it for good.

Staff and residents’ relatives at last night’s meeting at Thornaby Pavilion argued that the care home has been emptied intentionally, stating that applications have been turned away for some time.

One member of staff told the meeting: “They say there has only been a bed block for the past four months - it’s been going on for ages. They have slowly dwindled it down and we have seen it coming for ages.”

Another said there is a waiting list for the care home.

“We have had people applying to come in right up until a fortnight ago,” she said.

The council claims that to bring the building up to current standards would cost around £273,000. This would pay for improvements such as new lifts and en-suite bathrooms.

“The care there is second to none and £273,000 is chicken feed if it means keeping it open.”

Another member of staff referred to a recent inspection of the home by the Commission for Social Care.

“Why is such a song and dance being made about lifts and en suites when this report said there were no recommendations for improvements? It’s managed as it is for 50 years so why change it now?”

The meeting was set up by Village Park Residents’ Association which has launched a campaign to show public support for the home, one of only two council-run centres left in the borough, and is circulating a petition.

The issue is expected to go before Cabinet next month but chairman of the association, Peter Brennan, agreed to write to members of the council and ask for their views prior to the meeting.

Campaigners also agreed to try to gather evidence from people who have been turned away from the home in recent months.

James Wharton, a lawyer and prospective Conservative MP, said: “If they are going to say that there aren’t enough people to fill the home, then we have got to get the proof that they have been turning people away.”

A spokeswoman for Stockton Council said: “First and foremost it must be stressed no decision has been made. Officers from Stockton Council have met with staff at Parkview to clarify the situation.

“As a local authority we continually review our services to ensure they meet the needs of the people we serve. A review is presently under way and a report will be taken to Cabinet in December.”

 

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Residents pledge to fight care home closure

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight to save a pensioners' care home from closure.

People in Thornaby said they would do everything in their power to save the Parkview nursing home from the axe later this year.

Stockton Borough Council has admitted that the 50-year-old home may be closed down, but said no firm decision had yet been taken.

But Peter Brennan, secretary of the Village Park Residents' Association in Thornaby, said it would be a sin to close the building, which is home to 14 pensioners, including one resident who is more than 100 years old.

"Our group is very concerned about the future of Parkview home and even more concerned about the rumours that a bed block has been put in place, preventing new people from moving in there," he said.

"Rumours have been allowed to get into the public domain before the facts, which is creating a lot of anxiety.

"What logic is there behind closing this down? To the people who live there, it's not a home, it is their home. We are very concerned about the effects on the residents if they are forced to move out."

Mr Brennan said Parkview was the last remaining council-run nursing home in Thornaby and provided a vital service to families.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor agreed. She said: "This has always been an excellent home. The residents are vulnerable people with families who usually live close by and who can support and visit them.

"I would be incredibly disappointed if it closed, but, if the consultation comes to that conclusion, I will have no option but to accept it."

However, she believed residents would opt to save it as it was the last remaining council home in the borough.

"I find it very difficult to believe that residents would not want to keep that home open," she added.

Borough councillor Tina Large, who is also chairwoman of Thornaby Town Council, said she would be asking questions.

She said: "We would clearly want to see the nursing home remain."

A council spokesman confirmed the issue was being looked at.

He said: "No decision has yet been made about Parkview residential home.

"No-one is currently being admitted while we review the service. This review will be considered by cabinet in December, with a recommendation that we have a period of wide consultation."

The residents' association has organised a public meeting to discuss the issue on Thursday, at 6.30, in the Pavilion Lecture Room in Thornaby town centre.

9:30am Saturday 10th November 2007