Plans for care home cull revealed as 64 OAPs face relocation

DOZENS of pensioners could be forced to move under proposals to close two care homes.

SNP-run West Lothian Council is facing an estimated 45 million black hole by 2014 and has earmarked Limecroft in Dedridge and Whitdale in Whitburn as potential casualties in inevitable cuts. A total of 64 elderly residents will have to be relocated, most likely to private care facilities, if the axe falls.

The move would see the publicly-funded care home provision in the county slashed by 50 per cent.

If given the green light, closures would be expected in 2013/14 with financial projections suggesting 680,000 could be saved from the council budget.

Local authority chiefs today stressed, however, that no decision has yet been made, as elderly groups and opposition councillors warned care standards must be maintained.

A spokesman for Age Scotland said: "We would expect a comprehensive public consultation to take place and would want older people to be at the forefront. We would like to be reassured that (if granted] this would not mean any drop in standards and wherever residents are put, it is important it doesn't not inconvenience friends and relatives who visit. A full consultation and a timetable needs to be drawn up."

Mary Ferrie, secretary of West Lothian 50-plus Network, said their 300 members would be "most concerned" to learn of the proposed care home reduction while opposition Labour councillor John McGinty expressed concern.

He said: "This news will be alarming for people who are currently residents in the care homes. West Lothian is one of the areas which will have a fairly fast population growth of elderly people so it doesn't make a great deal of sense to cut two council-run care homes."

A 60-bed private care home is currently being built in Broxburn. Council figures suggest there are also between 20-30 beds available at any one time in the county's 11 private facilities.

A West Lothian Council spokesperson, said: "We are currently planning for an estimated budget shortfall of 45m by 2014, and are in the process of consulting with the community over a large number of officer-led proposals to save money while focusing on providing core council services.

"The consultation phase will continue until 30 June 2010. No decisions will be made on these proposals before December 2010."

The 30 June deadline for public consultation applies to all cuts proposed by West Lothian Council.