Council defends decision to close down Moot Lodge care home

Ward councillor Mike Mitchelson (Brampton, Conservative) to defer the meeting of the executive committee, which was held in the Copeland Centre in Whitehaven on Tuesday, to a later date in Carlisle so residents would be better able to attend.

Speaking after the decision was taken to close Moot Lodge councillor Lisa Brown (Currock, Labour), the portfolio holder for adults and community health, said it was the best option for residents and added: "There are a number of reasons, but it comes for our vision for what care should look like in the future and how we support our most vulnerable residents."

She said she sympathised with residents and relatives of those at Moot Lodge who faced the possibility that visiting could be more difficult if they were moved further away to places such as Carlisle. She added: "It's not the end of the conversation with them. We are going into more consultations, more conversations, we are not just closing this and walking away, we would never do that."

Cllr Brown said the care facility was considered no longer fit for purpose and added: "It's not up to the standards that we would expect for a modern care home, there are limitations with the building and it is all there in the report and I would encourage everybody to have a look at.

"But we want better for our residents, we want them to live longer, healthier, happier lives and this is absolutely part of the information and part of our thought process behind making the decision."

Cllr Mitchelson, who was unable to attend the meeting, submitted a letter which was given to members of the committee and in it he said: "I have been approached by several residents to request that you defer a discussion and decision on this item at today’s meeting until your next meeting to be held in Carlisle.

"It is a view held by many people locally that any discussion should be held in a venue closer to where the decision would have an impact.

"It is felt that to have this in Whitehaven is a barrier to local residents being able to attend and listen to the debate, if it is held in Carlisle then many local people would be in a better position to attend and hear what is being said.

"It is important that decisions like this should be made in a location which is accessible to the people who are most affected."

He also asked that they did not accept the recommendations and to enter into discussions locally on the "best way forward to provide council managed care in the Brampton community".

Cllr Mitchelson (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Mitchelson added: "The council has facilitated a public consultation on Moot Lodge which resulted in an overwhelming 86 percent of respondents against the closure of Moot Lodge.

"I would agree that this represents the majority of views of the general public in and around the catchment area of Brampton, which means that nearly nine out of 10 people are against closure."

He said Moot Lodge would leave a "severe gap" in the local provision of care and added: "The remaining private sector premises are usually full to capacity which means that new requests for elderly care in Brampton cannot be accommodated locally  within the local community which I and others feel is so important for those in care."

During the debate cllr Brown said they could not use a "sub-standard building" when better facilities were available but agreed that they had to make some "very difficult decisions".

Council leader, councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great, Clifton), said the matter could not be deferred and added: "We will give a full and detailed response to councillor Mitchelson."

He said that staff at Moot Lodge provided excellent quality of care, which was the reason for its success, but what let it down was the quality of the building. He added: "Excellent care should be our main goal."

A council spokesman said: "Several key factors have influenced this decision. Moot Lodge has been facing challenges related to reduced occupancy and its capacity to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our residents.

"The building has limitations relating to facilities on multiple levels and access to safe outside space, which cannot be resolved through capital investment."