Plans for care homes

THE end could be in sight for the £100 million transfer of 26 Devon County Council residential homes to Shaw Healthcare. Negotiations on the contract are continuing, but it is hoped the papers can be signed by May of this year. Of the six homes affected i

THE end could be in sight for the £100 million transfer of 26 Devon County Council residential homes to Shaw Healthcare.Negotiations on the contract are continuing, but it is hoped the papers can be signed by May of this year.Of the six homes affected in North Devon the proposals - which have formed the basis of negotiations - include two new builds, two redevelopments into "extra care" flats and two with a question mark still hanging over them.Proposals being considered for Burrow House in Ilfracombe are for the existing home to be demolished and redeveloped from September, 2010 as 40 "extra care" flats for older people with nursing needs.The flats would be specifically designed for those with care needs and would enable residents to keep as much of their independence as possible, said the council, but with 24-hour care on hand if they need it. The same scheme is proposed for Beech House in South Molton, with a projected start date of March, 2010.Oakwell in Barnstaple has been earmarked as the site of a brand new state-of-the-art 56-bed home for people with nursing needs, from June, 2012.Fairlea in Bideford is looking at a new 66-bed residential home for older people with nursing needs, plus those with dementia.An uncertain future still awaits Woodland Vale in Torrington There are no definite plans for it at present.The same applies to Lydiate Lodge at Lynton, but the county has been meeting with the Primary Care and Northern Devon healthcare Trusts plus Shaw to discuss "possible community uses" for the building from September, 2009.There was dismay following a meeting with residents' families and Shaw Healthcare at Burrow House. Joanne Bell, whose mother lives at the home, said she was appalled to learn it was going to be demolished."My understanding is the new buildings will be fantastic flats, but not suitable for the residents already there and no one was able to tell us what was going to happen to them," she said.A county spokesman stressed negotiations were still ongoing and nothing had been decided as yet: "But central to that is investment by Shaw of £100 million to improve care services and facilities for older people," he said. "There will be no change to the service at Burrow House until 2010, but if negotiations are successful then we and Shaw will be working with residents and families to look at accommodation options to identify how they want to move forward.