Dudley care homes to shut in £500k cutbacks
Two care homes with dozens of beds will shut in Dudley as part of the latest round of closures of council-run homes in a bid to save £500,000.
But organisations have shown interest in taking over control of another home that has been saved from the axe.
New Swinford Hall, in Stourbridge, and New Bridge House, in Coseley, will close next April under a review of adult social care by Dudley Council.
Both house respite care beds for the rehabilitation of elderly patients for around six weeks following treatment. The plan is expected to save £515,000.
Under the plan, 18 beds at New Swinford Hall and 14 beds at New Bridge House will be moved to the last remaining council-run home, Russell Court, in Dudley.
Officials say there will be no compulsory redundancies as council staff would be given the option to transfer. But no such guarantee has been given over the futures of agency workers used at the two homes.
Dudley Council adult services boss, Councillor Dave Branwood, said the authority was now 'exploring the options' regarding the future use of the two buildings.
The shake-up plans had initially been revealed two years ago, which caused a public outcry, especially from the families of residents living at another home under threat, New Bradley Hall, in Kingswinford.
But councillors backtracked on proposals to shut New Bradley and recently announced plans to transfer the care home, in Compton Drive, to a new 'not-for-profit' organisation. Councillor Branwood said today: "The initial press coverage has generated interest in running the home."
The names of the organisations interested in running the home have not yet been revealed.
