Dozens of elderly people who had to be rehoused in new care homes across the region just days before Christmas are now settled after a “traumatic” experience.
Thirty-three pensioners were moved from crisis-hit Singleton Park Care Home near Parkgate on December 21, and had to be dispersed around other care facilities.
Dumfries and Galloway Council leader Elaine Murray was worried about their welfare following the upheaval and controversial closure of what was once their home.
At the council’s social work committee, she said: “I’ve had a degree of concern about the wellbeing of the residents with all of the disruption in having to be moved to a new residential setting.
“I just wondered if we had any sort of feedback on how those residents have fared since they were moved to other homes?”
Lillian Cringles, the region’s social work chief, said: “We have tracked the residents. The majority have gone into other units within the region and, to date, there have been no significant issues raised.
“It has been traumatic and there has been support offered to some residents who found it more difficult than others. That support has been offered to their families.
“The overall feeling is that the moves have gone as well as they could have, and there have been few challenges which we’ve worked through.”
Dr Murray responded: “That’s reassuring to know that people haven’t suffered too greatly from all the disruption.”
A sheriff suspended the registration of the private residential facility last year due to serious concerns over care and the running of the home. Inspectors had issued an improvement notice demanding “safe and effective management, leadership and oversight of the care home”, as well as “improved working practices”.
Coucillor Andy Ferguson said: “We need to put on record the tremendous effort that was put into this to rectify what was a horrible situation as it arose. We should thank the staff, and joint staff with the NHS, for all their efforts.”
