GMB union slams Government plans on social care as more vital care homes are forced to close
Union criticises government's social care budget plans as staff and residents at Amethyst House in Doncaster notified their home will be closing.
GMB, the union for care workers, has been notified that Runwood Homes has served notice of proposed redundancies to an army of vital support workers at Amethyst House based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Runwood Homes saved a large number of council care homes from closure when Doncaster Council announced plans to close many sites in 2014.
But as a direct result of national social care funding cuts, local council cuts and increased rents by a private landlord, Amethyst House is being forced to close.
In 2016 Doncaster Council slashed their social care funding by £3.1 million in order to make savings forced on them by national government.
Doncaster Council announced in 2014 their plans to sell off any remaining council run homes to a number of privately owned care providers and introduced further plans whereby social care users are now expected to live at home for as long as possible, rather than receive vital care in a safe, caring, council run home.
Deanne Ferguson GMB Regional Organiser said:
"The army of workers, most of whom are union members based here at Amethyst House, are devastated and deeply saddened to hear the news that they risk losing their jobs and residents will be forced out of their homes as a direct result of both council and government spending cuts.
"Runwood approached Doncaster Council asking them to increase funding for each bed as the company are not making financial requirements on a number of their homes.
"Doncaster Council have refused, leaving Runwood Homes with no other option but to sell their homes en masse.
"Sadly there has been no buyer for Amethyst, resulting in a home closure.
"This government's proposals to increase the social care budget is too little to late.
"The plans are watery with no substance and simply will do nothing to save workers from losing their jobs and residents from losing their homes here in Doncaster.
"The community of Rossington will be impacted by yet another vital care service being forced to close as a direct result of this government's neglect to save such vital support services for the people of Doncaster and throughout this country.
"The staff sadly found out about their home closure by a Doncaster Cllr's post on Facebook earlier this morning causing further upset and heartache to all concerned.
"This is just the sad reality and only a small snapshot of what's really going on in care in twenty first century Britain.
"We are not all in this together as this Government had pledged."
