As Britain’s biggest care home group struggles to stay afloat, financial wheeling and dealing is dominating the headlines. But in all of the group’s care homes across Tayside, uncertainty is blighting the lives of individuals. Marjory Inglis spoke to one relative with a wife in an Angus care home.
Andrew Dawson has no fear that his wife, who has dementia, will be moved from her care home in Arbroath, operated by Southern Cross.
But he does worry that the staff at Lunan Court will be reduced as the financially troubled care group looks to cut costs and the level of care at the high-rated home will suffer.
The former St Andrews University geography lecturer wrote to the Southern Cross chief executive immediately after staffing cuts across the care home group were announced.
He was seeking reassurance that care at Lunan Court would be maintained.
“I have yet to have a reply,” said Dr Dawson.
He moved to Arbroath with his wife Maureen (71) when he retired six years ago.
It was a return for Mrs Dawson to her home town and the couple were looking forward to a happy retirement.
But their plans soon went awry as Mrs Dawson starting having problems, exhibiting distressing and out-of-character behaviour before eventually being diagnosed with dementia.
“She went downhill very steeply two or three years ago and eventually had to be moved in to Sunnyside Hospital,” said Dr Dawson.
He looked after his wife at home but said her care team realised that, if they did not admit Mrs Dawson and take over her care full time, her husband would end up in hospital too.
Mrs Dawson was moved to Lunan Court in January and her husband said he has been very pleased with the care she receives there.
The home had been given a string of top marks after the most recent review by the monitoring body.
Dr Dawson said, “It is one of the very best of Southern Care’s homes in Scotland. Even if Southern Cross collapses, there is no question Lunan Court will not continue.
“I am not at all worried about the possibility of closure. Somebody will take it over.”
“What does concern me is the fact the staff there are very concerned about what is going to happen to them as a result of the comments made by Southern Cross about a reduction in the number of employees.
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“Two weeks ago they said it would affect nurses, care workers, domestic staff and maintenance staff. These are the frontline people in terms of looking after residents.
“My concern is an attempt will be made to reduce the staffing in Lunan Court and I simply don’t think they can maintain the quality of provision.
“They have got the staff they need to do the job. If they were taken away, it would be very difficult to keep the same standards.
“They are a very good group of people at Lunan Court. They work well as a team. So many of the staff are local people who know the residents and knew them when they lived (independently) in the town.
“Inevitably, there are people working there who are married and have family to support and they are very concerned about their futures.”
Dr Dawson said there was little he could do but wait and see what happens.
He said, “I wrote to the chief executive of Southern Cross saying that I thought it was a very unwise policy to cut frontline staff in the homes and these were the last people who should be targeted.
“I have also been in touch with our MSP Graeme Dey and I know that the Scottish Government is alert to the issue.”
One person who remains unconcerned about her future care is Mrs Dawson herself.
Once a regular theatre-goer, who kept up with pen pals across the globe, her illness leaves her unaware of the situation facing Southern Cross and its residents.