Declares that Lady Forester Community Nursing Home contains 15 single bedrooms and offers residents nursing care; notes that four of the places are funded by the local GP service through Shropshire Primary Care Trust; further notes that Forester’s Court comprises 10 one bedroom apartments and provides very sheltered housing; and further declares that the petitioners are opposed to the proposed closure of both Lady Forester Community Nursing Home and Forester’s Court.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to take steps to prevent the closure of Lady Forester Community Nursing Home and Forester’s Court.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented, Official Report, Thursday22 July 2010; Vol. 514, c. 8P .]
[P000846]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
We understand that a potential buyer has been found for Lady Forester Community Nursing Home and that the home will, subject to successful negotiations, remain open.
Lady Forester Community Nursing Home is privately owned and operated by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust. The trust, in common with all independent care providers, is free to take its own decisions regarding the financial viability of the services it owns and operates. The Secretary of State for Health does not have the power to intervene if an owner decides, for whatever reason, to close or sell their care or nursing home. However, in the event of the closure of a care or nursing home, local council social services have a duty to assess the care needs of residents and, if appropriate, provide or arrange alternative care for them.