Pledge on Shropshire Southern Cross care home residents
Thursday 9th June 2011, 4:20PM BST.
Shropshire social care bosses have pledged to protect care home residents in the county after Britain’s biggest care group revealed plans to cut 3,000 jobs in a huge programme of change.
Southern Cross which is responsible for looking after some 31,000 residents nationally – including nearly 200 in Shropshire – said yesterday that the move was essential to address “staff effectiveness” in 750 homes.
The company which employs 44,000 staff, said the proposals to slash the workforce by nearly seven per cent, were part of its programme of change launched 18 months ago.
Southern Cross recently warned it was in a “critical financial condition” as it unveiled a £311 million loss in the six months to March 31. The company has homes in Telford, Wem, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Newport and two in Shrewsbury, and employs 292 staff across the county.
Stephen Chandler, group manager, assessment and eligibility, at Shropshire Council, said their priority “is to support and protect our most vulnerable residents”.
“We currently have 43 residents in Southern Cross Healthcare-operated homes in Shropshire and do not have any concerns about the services provided.”
A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman said they were “currently following up whether there are any implications for the company’s two homes in the borough”.
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Until a few years ago the vast majority of care homes were run by local authorities. Has the shift to private sector provision reduced costs or increased the quality of care? I think not, it has just generated fear and uncertainty for thousands of elderly people and their families, and vast profits for the operators.
There is a familiar pattern to all this (see privatisation of railways/public utilities/local authority services and…..coming soon….the health service).
Report abuse