Today Derbyshire Conservatives blasted the Labour administration at Derbyshire County Council over their plans to close 4 County Council care homes without a credible plan to replace them or meet future growing need for places in the county.
When Labour took control in 2013 they binned a comprehensive scheme that was hailed nationally as a potential solution to the growing elderly care issues faced by the nation. The Derbyshire Conservatives plan was for a more than £200m package, funded in part by investment from the private sector, which would have seen Derbyshire’s crumbling care homes replaced with 1600 extra care places keeping couples together and allowing people to have their own front door and dementia care that would have been second to none. A care scheme that was fit and proper for 21st century needs within a few miles of every most of Derbyshire’s population.
Wayne Major, Shadow Cabinet member for Adult Care said,
“Ideologically, this was not where 70s style Derbyshire Labour was at. They closed down that scheme by any means possible and have the audacity to spin this as them saving 16 care homes and yet all they have managed to do is close four care homes without a plan to replace them.
“What is truly disingenuous about Labour is that this is simply cost driven because they can commission these beds in the independent sector for about a 40% reduction per bed in some cases. This from Labour endlessly criticising the private sector for profiteering, yet here we have them commissioning these places with a caring independent sector that will still make a profit. So much for caring Labour, looking after the County workforce.”
The report also highlights inefficiencies in reablement, with Derbyshire underperforming compared to its near neighbours, adding to the burden of elderly care in Derbyshire.
Conservative Leader Barry Lewis said,
“This is truly shambolic. Labour has failed Derbyshire’s elderly, not just today but for perhaps a generation. They truly have cut off their noses to spite their faces.”