Get involved over care home scheme
9 Mawrth 2010
Bethan marches with Plaid councillors Alun Llewelyn (also the party's parliamentary candidate for Neath), Linet Purcell, and behind Bethan, Rosalyn Davies at the recent Port Talbot demonstration
BETHAN Jenkins AM has urged people living in Neath Port Talbot who care about care home reorganisation to get involved in the consultation over the plans, after she raised the matter with the First Minister of Wales.
The South Wales West AM sought Welsh Government reassurances over the controversial proposals from the Senedd in Cardiff Bay after speaking with many worried constituents on the matter, attending demonstrations like the one in Port Talbot on February 20, and speaking at public gatherings like the March 3 meeting over Trem y Glyn care home in Glynneath.
Bethan told the First Minister: “You may be aware that Neath Port Talbot council is proposing closing its existing seven care homes and replacing them with three new super homes. There is considerable consternation in the borough over this, not least because it will necessitate the moving of elderly residents from previously-thought secure environments to new surroundings, possibly away from their own communities.
“There is also concern over how relatives will access them. Are there any guidelines or standards issued on the movement of elderly residents and access to them?”
Mr Jones said the plans were a matter for the local authority but that care provision would be scrutinised by the social services inspectorate. He added: “I would urge anyone with a strong interest in this issue to get involved.”
However, local Aberafon AM Brian Gibbons spoke in favour of the council’s plans, claiming that standards would be improved and that he “didn’t understand” why such questions were being raised in the Siambr.
Bethan said afterwards: “It is somewhat hypocritical of Dr Gibbons to attend the Unison rally just over a week ago and give workers every impression that he is with them, and then defend his Labour allies when he is some 30-odd miles away and where he thinks that no one is listening.
“I would urge local people to become involved. More and more people are becoming concerned over the proposals – as I saw in Glynneath last night – and opposition is becoming more organised.
“I’d also like to correct the First Minister on one thing. He said the care home plan had received “across the board” support from councillors when they heard it before Christmas. This is wrong. Plaid Cymru councillors were against it then and remain vehemently opposed to it now. Plaid councillors they put people, staff and services first.”
