Shock at decision to close care home

HC-One has announced that its Holywell Dene care home will close when places in other care homes have been found for all of the remaining residents.

The company that runs Holywell Dene says it has taken a few different factors into account before making the decision, including that it has struggled to fill care places at the home for many months.

Those who have loved ones at the facility, which provides residential and residential dementia care, are upset with the closure as they highly rate the staff and it received a good rating from the Care Quality Commission in its most recent inspection.

The home will remain open until places in other care homes have been found for all of the remaining residents.

Seaton Delaval resident Claire Nicholson said: “My mum has been a resident at Holywell Dene for almost two years and during that time, she has been looked after with kindness, devotion and I have to say love by the wonderful carers who work there.

“Family members now have to watch their relative go through the upheaval and unpleasant period of settling in all over again. This could take weeks, months and even over a year in some cases.

“The closure is particularly annoying as I was told there were 18 people on the list that had said they wanted to live at the care home the fortnight before the announcement, but it was not allowed by the company to take them.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the other residents and they are panicking about the closure.”

A spokesman for HC-One said: “This decision has not been taken lightly, but we feel it’s in the long-term best interests of the people we support.

“Despite a significant investment of time and resources – and very positive ratings from the Care Quality Commission and local authority (Northumberland County Council) – we have for many months struggled to fill care places at the home.

“There are 47 other care homes within a five-mile radius and in discussions with the local authority it is clear that are significantly more care places in the local area than the number of residents needing support.

“Over the coming weeks, the health, safety and well-being of the people we support will remain our top priority.

“We will be working closely with residents, their loved ones and all appropriate authorities to ensure that residents find suitable new care homes which meet their individual care needs.

“We will also be supporting our dedicated colleagues and hope to retain as many as possible at our other homes in the area.”