THE son-in-law of one of the residents at a Herefordshire home under review has asked that the level of care is not lessened or compromised when it comes to decision time.

Former Ledbury mayor and local businessman Spencer Lane said the care his wife's mother, Mary Walker, received at Leadon Bank Residential Home was 'second to none'.

He submitted a letter to Ledbury Town Council at its Thursday meeting asking for support in fighting for the 43 residents and staff in opposing any plans of shutting it down.

Mr Lane said he was concerned not just for his own relative, but also for the many friends she had made while living at Leadon Bank.

He stressed that the review proposed by Herefordshire Council for change at seven homes would affect 176 elderly people, 'these people being some of the most frail in our community'.

He said that the article in The Hereford Times which exclusively revealed privatisation as an option for council care homes had prompted a letter from the authority that caused distress.

The letter was sent by the director of health, housing and social care, Richard Humphries, to relatives and then residents left care staff with a crisis, he said.

"It was dealt with as sensitively as possible by the staff, but it left some residents confused, worried, in tears or unable to comprehend the situation," said Mr Lane.

He pointed out that the social care committee had agreed to a consultation review last Tuesday that would look at three options, including closure.

Mr Lane's letter to Ledbury Town Council asked for the following support:

6 Your affirmation that Leadon Bank is a most needed essential local resource for our elderly.

6 The care of the elderly at Leadon Bank is commendable.

6 To fight for the residents of Leadon Bank to oppose any act of closure.

6 To be informed and consulted by Herefordshire Social Services on this review.

6 To press local Herefordshire Councillors for their unequivocal support of the Leadon Bank facility, its staff and its residents.

Shift in care focus

RESIDENTIAL care was the subject of a House of Commons debate which discussed a 'Modernising Social Services' Government white paper.

The then Minister of State for the Department of Health, John Hutton, said on April 3, 2000: "The Conservative Government's devotion to the privatisation of care provision put dogma before the care needs of service users and threatened the fragmentation of vital care services.

"However, it is equally true that the near monopoly of local authority provision that used to be a prominent feature of social care frequently led to a 'one size fits all' approach, with users being expected to accommodate themselves to the services provided, regardless of their needs and preferences.

"We want to move the focus away from who provides the care and place it firmly on the quality of the service."