Campaign To Save South Lodge And Hillcrest Care Homes

GMB Scotland Campaign To Save South Lodge And Hillcrest Care Homes

GMB Scotland Trade Union has launched a campaign to save South Ayrshire Council's two care homes: South Lodge in Ayr and Hillcrest in Girvan.

These two care homes have been placed under review by South Ayrshire council with one of the options being: The availability and potential for alternative care provision, alongside a carefully managed closure of Hillcrest and /or South Lodge. [Source: South Ayrshire Council Press Release: 21 October 2016]

GMB Scotland Trade Union has Members in both of these care homes and within all grades of staff providing care, support and catering services to the residents. Despite staffing levels being at an all-time low, and with South Ayrshire Council failing on several commitments to bring staffing levels up to an acceptable level, the standard of care being provided at South Lodge and Hillcrest by our Members is of an exceptionally high standard.

GMB Scotland Trade Union is concerned that with commitments on staffing levels failing to be honoured, South Ayrshire Council's preference would be that these care homes are closed and that current residents and potential future residents are placed in care homes run by private companies.

Paul Arkison of GMB Scotland Trade Union said: "The staff in South Lodge and Hillcrest have provided a fantastic service to the residents, and that is despite staffing levels reaching appallingly low levels.  "South Ayrshire Council should show respect to the staff who have provided an enormous amount of dedication and commitment to make sure the residents receive an exceptionally high level of care and provide reassurance to the workers, residents and their families that South Lodge and Hillcrest will be retained as local authority run care homes."

South Ayrshire's councillors are expected to vote on the future on South Lodge and Hillcrest in early 2017, and GMB Scotland Trade Union has written to all of the elected councillors to encourage them to vote to keep the care homes open, and also launched a petition for people to sign in support of these vital care services.

Paul Arkison went on to say: "It's shameful that we have local Labour councillors propping up the Tories and doing their dirty work for them. "It's time for Labour councillors to ditch this misguided managerialism and return to practicing politics for the betterment of the very people they are there to protect and represent in South Ayrshire."

Ends

Contact: Paul Arkison,  07801 656533

Notes to Editors:

GMB Online Petition: https://www.change.org/p/8531858

Hard copies available from GMB Ayrshire Office: 01563 574455