Whitnash care home campaigners want to keep ‘excellent’ quality

Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet committee last week voted to look for buyers for its ten care homes as part of attempts to cut £22 million.

The Lawns in Whitnash and Park View in Warwick are placed third and fourth in a ‘closure matrix’ drawn up by officials, and a group of Whitnash residents have officially expressed interest in running the town’s home as a social enterprise.

Whitnash town councillor Parminder Birdi spoke to councillors last week. He said: “We wanted to tell the committee that we have a group in Whitnash that is keen to retain the services of the Lawns and that they should give us every opportunity they can.

“The Lawns has excellent staff and an excellent reputation. We want to ensure it provides the same service for residents that it did before.”

Among those volunteering their efforts are relatives of residents, businesspeople and councillors. With support of MP Chris White, Cllr Birdi is hopeful the group will succeed and said councillors he spoke to were receptive. He believes the council must consider social enterprises if it is serious about serving the people it represents.

Cllr Birdi added: “There is an ageing population and for them to overlook an option would not be sensible. If it works they will have another option to provide a good service.”

County councillor Izzi Seccombe is responsible for care homes. She insisted that if care homes were sold to private companies, the county council would ensure the quality of care remained high but said the council was doing its best to provide the Whitnash group with the information it needed.

She added: “If communities want to take on services we will do our level best to help them.”