Mayor looking to save Liverpool care homes from closure

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has revealed he is trying to find a solution to prevent two local care homes from closing, less than a year after they originally opened.

In August, Social Care Today reported that the two care homes – Brushwood and Millvina House – which were commissioned by the council and run by Shaw Healthcare were set to close because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The £8m Brushwood care home opened in October 2019,

It was the first local authority-built care home to open in the city since the early 1990s, while Millvina House opened a month later.

Speaking in August, Shaw Healthcare’s chief operating officer, Mike Smith said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a ‘significant impact on the UK and the care industry has been badly affected by this deadly disease’.

But in a statement issued yesterday (22 September), Mr Anderson said he is ‘working really hard with my team to find a solution’.

‘On this basis, I ask families not to look for alternative provision and for staff to stay where they are, while I try to find a solution,’ said the Liverpool city mayor.

‘I gave approval for these facilities to be built because we wanted the best provision for the people of this city, especially those with complex needs. I was so proud to have opened the buildings last year and I was equally devastated when told the news that the operator wanted to cease operating the service,’ added Mr Anderson.

‘Despite the prime minister’s claim he had an oven-ready solution for the care sector and repeated promises by government to do everything it takes, the care sector is still reeling from the impact of Covid-19 on social care, in particular residential care homes.

‘Against this difficult backdrop, we have been talking to Shaw Healthcare and other providers to see if we can avoid closure and keep the residents in their homes and the workforce in their jobs.’

Photo Credit – Stevepb (Pixabay)