The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Group formed to fight closure of care home
ARBROATH: Friends of Seaton Grove gathering support JIM MILLAR
Campaigners have united in a bid to save an under-threat Angus care home from the axe.
A leaked report showed that Seaton Grove care home – one of just three in the county still operated by Angus Health and Social Care Partnership – could be closed or privatised.
The report also highlighted that the Arbroath building required investment of £1 million to bring it up to standard.
A Friends of Seaton Grove campaign group has now been formed to rally support against the proposed changes.
Firing the first salvo in defence of the unit, the Friends have warned management chiefs that “anything that threatens the future of the home could have dire consequences for the frail, elderly residents”.
A social media page set up by the group quickly attracted more than 700 followers, while a petition has been circulated around local shops and pubs.
Battle lines have been drawn after a campaign was launched to save a muchloved Angus care home from closure.
The fight is under way after relatives, carers and members of the public reacted with fury at a leaked report on the future of Seaton Grove in Arbroath.
Friends of Seaton Grove has been set up to campaign for the retention of the facility and warned “anything that threatens the future of the home could have dire consequences for the frail, elderly residents”.
A Facebook page for the campaign quickly attracted more than 700 followers and a petition against the closure has also been launched, circulating around shops and bars in the town.
Residents, families and supporters will gather at the unit for a coffee afternoon on Sunday to rally support against the proposed changes.
A leaked report seen by The Courier argues that the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP), which includes Angus Council and NHS Tayside, faces a double whammy of financial constraint and steadily increasing demand.
It estimates that the unit now requires around £1m in investment to bring it up to standard. Options for its future include closure and privatisation.
A Friends of Seaton Grove spokesperson said: “The campaign has one clear aim – to demonstrate the huge support throughout Angus for this highly regarded and much-needed service, and to persuade the AHSCP that the benefits of retaining Seaton Grove far outweigh any potential cost savings.
“We would encourage people to sign the petition and show their support for Seaton Grove.”
The friends group has praised the staff at the home for “continuing to provide a great service” while they are facing an uncertain future. It also argues that moving the residents, some of whom have been there for many years, would be an extremely stressful and worrying experience.
Two Arbroath East and Lunan councillors – Conservative Derek Wann and Brenda Durno of the SNP – have already thrown their weight behind the campaign.
The benefits of retaining Seaton Grove far outweigh any potential cost savings. FRIENDS OF SEATON GROVE