A petition launched to help stop Leeds City Council closing a care home in Farsley has secured more than 1,000 names – less than a month after it war launched.
As WLD reported last month, the council faces a £119m budget shortfall for 2021/22, which are partly due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on council services and revenue collection.
Part of the proposals to save money include the closure of Richmond House, a 20-bedded residential service offering short-term care and support to people who require a period of recovery following a hospital admission. The service also offers support to people from the community to prevent hospital admission.
A petition to save the facility was started by local resident John Procter. In an update, he said:
“Thank you everyone since we launched the petition to save Richmond House – we have now gone past 1,000 signatures. This facility is vital for our community and the respite care it offers to the elderly in West Leeds and beyond.
“Leeds City Council should not be using the excuse it is underused by sending people to homes at the other side of the city.”
The early blueprints for the 2021/22 budget also include a proposal to consult on the closure of Homelea House in Rothwell.
A report considered by senior executive board councillors last month said the council could save more than £700,000 a year:
“Richmond House is continually under occupied and the current type of provision can easily be assimilated in wider system provision.
“A formal minimum consultation period would be required, however everyone who receives a service at Richmond House either returns to their own home, is supported to bid for rehousing or moves to longer term care.”
A statement from the council added:
“Any decisions to move ahead with closure would include a full public consultation and work to identify other care home accommodation suited to the individual needs of residents currently living at both care homes.”
The petition can be signed here.
WLD first reported on the planned closure here.
This facility was no longer being used as people think. The staff don’t even want to work at this place anymore! It’s predominantly used to house people with substance habits and asylum seekers, who are very challenging to care for, frequently abusive towards staff, so much so the change of resident has resulted in those who have worked here since it was used to house the elderly, have not even signed the petition, themselves angry that the guy who started it, is out of touch and not done his research.