GLENSIDE residential home in Douglas is being closed, the Social Care Minister confirmed today.
Chris Robertshaw MHK made the announcement in the House of Keys this morning (Tuesday) following a question from North Douglas MHK Bill Henderson.
He wanted to know if the Department of Social Care had plans to close any residential homes in the next year.
Mr Robertshaw said "no" but confirmed that the Glenside facility would be closed by the spring of 2014 as part of a "programme of change" for the future of social care services for adults.
He said: "I am on record as saying before Christmas that I was concerned about the debilitating effect that the uncertainty attached to the future of Glenside was having on the morale of some of the staff and I therefore resolved to spell out my department's policy on the matter as soon as I possibly could in the New Year.
"Considerable investment has, and is, taking place at other resource centres around the Island but Glenside simply does not lend itself to such reinvestment and therefore as part of our rebalancing programme it is expected that we will be in a position to close this centre in the spring of 2014."
Mr Robertshaw provided details of the "rebalancing programme" to the other members of Tynwald which will see the department put more emphasis on helping older people stay in their own homes for longer rather than them being admitted to residential homes.
According to the department the proposed changes will help government "balance its budget" as the annual cost of residential care for one person is £39,000 compared to £6,700 a year for home care.
No admissions will be made to the Glenside facility with immediate effect and admissions to the Rearyt ny Baie residential home in Douglas will also be suspended temporarily to allow the department to create the "capacity in the system" which is needed to deliver the change.
Officials from the Department of Social Care have met with Glenside's 64 staff this morning and will meet with the residents, and their families, later this afternoon.
Mr Robertshaw explained: "This process will continue pretty much all day with senior officials visiting and briefing the staff and managers at facilities all round the Island in order that no one feels excluded from this important policy initiative and begin to understand the part each will be asked to play in delivering change."
Mr Robertshaw added that the opening of two units in the Island – the unused Surby Unit at Southlands in Port Erin and the new EMI (Elderly, Mentally, Infirm) unit in the north will create "additional capacity" and provide an opportunity for residents at Glenside to "consider transfers where appropriate".
More to follow.
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