Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 28 February 2008

CARERS in West Cumbria fear for the future of respite care as two Workington homes are due to close.

Cavendish House and the Elms will make way for a new, short-break home in Cleator Moor, at the end of this year.

Even that has been thrown into disarray with the news that Thera North, who were to build and manage the facility, have pulled outbecause they could not reach agreement with the county council.

Thera North managing director Ralph Broad said that despite lengthy contract negotiations with Cumbria County Council the carer organisation were unable to agree terms.

A county spokesman said the running of the Cleator Moor facility will now be taken over by its social services division.

Mr Broad said: “Thera North was disappointed to be unable to proceed with the West Cumbria Short Breaks contract.”

Carers Pam Blain of Mitchell Avenue, Northside, Workington, said she had rung Social Services in Distington after hearing the news and the staff there knew nothing.

Mrs Blain said: “It is just chaotic. Nobody knows what is happening. The Elms is running on a day-by-day contract. I wanted to book my daughter Carol in as I am planning a holiday but I will have to wait because they are not taking bookings.”

Many local carers depending on respite care say their lives will be made more difficult when the two residential homes close this year.

A Workington woman said it would make life impossible for people who did not have private transport.

The woman, who would not be identified, said carers from Maryport, for instance, and the people they looked after, would have to take a bus to Workington, change buses and travel to Whitehaven and then take a third bus to Cleator Moor.She said: “There are no direct services to Cleator Moor from Workington of Maryport or anywhere in this area.

Mrs Blain added that she was also concerned that there were not enough beds. “The Cleator Moor facility will be offering respite care for families from Wigton to Barrow and it will have six beds - and two of those are emergencies.”

The county says the new service will provide the same number of respite bed nights a year as at The Elms and Cavendish House.

Mrs Blain said she was worried about a new system that would see people with disabilities being cared for in foster homes.

West Cumbria Carers manager Sue Whitehead said some people, especially younger ones, were pleased with this scheme and did not want their children and loved ones institutionalised.

Mrs Blain, whose daughter Carol is 46, said she has always gone to Cavendish House. Mrs Blain said: “She even objects to going to stay with her sister. For people like Carol - and she is not the only one - going into private homes will be stressful.”

Cumbria council says the decision to replace Cavendish House and The Elms was a reflection of the national move to provide care in more homely and appropriate accommodation.

A county spokesman said the council has liaised with families and carersthroughout this process to make sure everyone's needs are met.

But Mrs Blain, 64, said: “There used to be several people at the meetings and now there are two of us. We just don’t feel we can win.”

Mrs Blain’s daughter lives at home with her parents. Mrs Blain suffers from arthritis and, since she turned 60, gets no carers’ allowance. She is allowed 14 nights respite care a year.

n Minister for disabled people, Anne McGuire, in answer to a question from Workington MP Tony Cunningham, says a Government review of its progress in delivering objectives will be divided into four key themes - employment, income, health and social care and equalities - each led by a nominated department and including stakeholders.The carer’s allowance will be included in that review.