BRIARWOOD NURSING HOME SAVED!
Last updated at 16:54, Thursday, 16 April 2009
Briarwood Nursing Home in Whitehaven has been saved, writes Alan Irving.
Owners Anchor Homes revealed it was in detailed discussions with another local care provider to buy the home which was due to close as soon as the elderly residents were found alternative accommodation.
The news broke late today (Wednesday) after this week's Whitehaven News had gone to press.
The potential new owner is David and Joy Ditchburn who have run the Bethany House residential care home at Corkickle, Whitehaven, for the past 23 years.
Mr Ditchburn said: "My wife and I are delighted, we are fully committed to have the opportunity to run Briarwood in the future. Our aim will be to enhance the home's reputation and take it from two-star to three-star excellence."
A sale has been agreed but it will take up to six months for everything to be completed as David and Joy have to be approved by the Quality Care Commission. Anchor has agreed to carry on until then.
Mr Ditchburn said all the 41 Briarwood staff would be retained and the home would now be able take on more residents. There is room for nine more bringing the total in care to 30.
Anchor said: "No legally binding agreement has yet been signed but we hope to exchange contracts for the home in around six weeks time.
"We have continually worked hard to find alternatives to closing the home so are pleased with this outcome. The potential buyer operates another care home in the region as well as an at-home care service. Both have excellent ratings from the regulator so this will ensure the high levels of care and services are maintained at Briarwood if the sale goes ahead.
"We are pleased we have reached such a positive outcome for the care home's residents and staff after this period of uncertainty. There is still much work to be done but we anticipate that the buyers will be operating the home in the near future once all of the legal formalities are complete."
See next week's Whitehaven News for full report and reaction. Email your letters to letters@whitehaven-news.co.uk.
First published at 16:51, Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk
yes i must agree with the above they have been sold down the river. Once again anchor has a lot to answer for. Good luck to residents and staff.
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This is not a good move by Anchor,we have already been told by the POTENTIAL new owners that they plan to change Briarwwood not just by name but the service which is currently provided. They have never run a nursing home before, they have a care home but nursing care requires different kinds of skill and knowlege. There are huge concerns in the new providers abilities. They have said they plan to change the service so again there is still a risk that staff would loose jobs and nursing beds will still be lost. They are changing the name. Briarwood will still be no more.
Posted by annonymous member of staff on 22 April 2009 at 14:15