Caerphilly MP Wayne David has written to troubled care home owner Southern Cross expressing his concern for the future of its care homes in the area.
The Labour politician has written to the chief executive Jamie Buchan, about the company’s financial crisis.
In his letter Mr David said: “It is imperative that a commitment is given to put the interests and wellbeing of all Southern Cross residents above all other concerns. While I understand that Southern Cross is in a difficult financial position, the security of its residents must come first.”
Mr David is also liaising with Jeff Cuthbert AM and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Southern Cross owns the following: Abermill in Abertridwr, Bargoed, Church View in Caerphilly town, Parklands in Bedwas, Trafalgar Park in Nelson, Valley View in Cefn Hengoed, Mill View House in Newbridge, and White Rose in New Tredegar.
Britain’s biggest care homes operator, which looks after 31,000 elderly residents at 750 homes, Southern Cross is struggling to stay in business.
The firm had decided not to pay 30% of its rent in a bid to stay alive. The move has angered its landlords who are now tabling a bid to takeover a third of the company’s homes.
To be completely honest, I hope southern cross go to the wall. When times were good for them they penny pinched and to be truthfully honest I believe they treat their residents as commodities rather than people. In my line of work I have visited many southern cross homes and you can feel the corporateness of each place. It cares about profit, profit & profit. The idea behind privatising many of these homes in the first place was to stimulate competition and bring value for money. It has done neither, it has actually outpriced the independant homes that actually do care for its residents and turned caring for the elderly in the last stages of their lives into a greasy dirty corporate business. Lets make all residential homes independent and run not for profit. By either small charities, larger charities, housing associations or co-operatives. Lets give older people dignity knowing they're misery is not being profited on. Lets apply the same ethos to all care. Profit and care do not mix.