Potential closure of Paisley care home 'horrendous' for residents, say staff

A Paisley care home is at risk of closure as health and social care chiefs try to slash costs – a move staff say would be “devastating” for elderly residents.

The future of Montrose care home in Heriot Avenue, Foxbar, is in serious doubt after an assessment suggested it would be the “most appropriate” option to close when weighed against Hunterhill and Renfrew.

Members of the integration joint board (IJB) – responsible for oversight of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) – will consider whether to approve or reject reducing the care home estate through the shutdown of Montrose at a meeting on Friday, March 22.

Workers believe closing the home could have a detrimental impact on its vulnerable residents and plan to voice their opposition at Renfrewshire House on Thursday afternoon.

Tasha MacLellan, social care worker at Montrose care home, said: “Budget cuts impact the most vulnerable in our community. That’s who it affects the most – our elderly.

“We feel the impact of this potential closure could be devastating for the residents, some of whom have lived within the care home for over 10 years.

“This is what they know as their home. This is their safe place, where they are happy, so a potential move to relocate elsewhere at that age would be devastating.

“The mental toll it would take on them would just be horrendous.”

A petition has been launched and signed by more than 1,400 people and a Facebook group called ‘Save Montrose Care Home from closure’ has also been set up.

Tasha, who has worked at the home for 12 years, added: “We also have around 40 members of staff and we really don’t know what our situation is or what would happen to us. It’s a family.

“It’s always been a care home that’s always had a high standard of care. It seems a very unfair decision to take.”

According to a report to the IJB, the proposal based on the selection of Montrose would provide a saving of £399,000.

If approved, admissions to the three homes would be paused to allow bed numbers to be balanced and capacity used for affected residents.

There would be a period of at least four months before residents would move to a new home, unless an individual and their family wanted to move sooner.

The report explained: “This is to enable full consultation and person-centred planning to take place with every person to understand what is important to them and their loved ones, and to reduce the impact of the moving process as far as possible.”

Councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley Southeast, said: “It’s devastating.

“I don’t understand why they’re picking on the vulnerable people and their relatives, their children, who are trying to do their best for their mums and dads.

“I have people on to me all the time looking for a good care home and the local authority care homes, in my opinion, are the best care you can get.

“It’s a huge relief that they’re being cared for and looked after.

“It takes so much weight off their minds to know they’re being properly cared for, so it’s sad to see this. I hope people fight it. I really hope people fight it.”

Renfrewshire HSCP emphasised no decision has yet been made on the issue.

A spokesperson said: “Our officers are working hard to identify areas to address the budget gap, which is currently projected as £14.7 million.

“We are looking across all services to identify savings, but the initial proposals put forward for consideration represent areas where evidence shows we can safely make our existing service model more efficient.

“In November 2023, the integration joint board agreed that assessment of this proposal should be progressed, including stakeholder engagement, the development of an options appraisal and EQIA.

“This work has been undertaken and will be presented for consideration at the next meeting of the IJB, which is scheduled for Friday, March 22.

“It is important to emphasise that no decisions have yet been made on this proposal.”