Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesperson Councillor Wayne Hoban has expressed deep concern at Haringey Council’s decision to stop discussions with the Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) to develop an elderly care home on the Hornsey Hospital site.

At the Executive meeting held on 26 July, dissatisfaction was expressed regarding the TPCTs decision to reconsider funding and time scales for both phases of the Hornsey Central Hospital site development, which would mean that it would be unlikely that the care home would be built before 2009.

The planned development was supposed to replace the many places lost for elderly care in the borough following the Council’s decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes, which is opposed by families of the homes’ residents along with Lib Dem councillors and Lynne Featherstone MP.

Cllr Hoban has written to the TPCT to ask for an explanation as to why they have revised their original plans. He has also contacted Haringey Council asking them to reconsider its decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes, which is currently under judicial review.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“We were assured that the decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes would not adversely effect provision of care home beds in the borough on the basis that alternative provision would be provided on the Hornsey Hospital site. That plan has now been blown out of the water by this decision. It is clear that the planned closures must not proceed until alternative provision is in place.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green added:

“It is bad enough that the Council are to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes and now the local Teaching Primary Care Trust are backing out of their plans.Haringey Council now need to make some important decisions about the provision of elderly care in the local area.

“Older people in Haringey deserve better than this.”