Bowdon care home, owned by the Priory Group, to close (From Messenger Newspapers)

Bowdon care home, owned by the Priory Group, to close

12:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

A BOWDON care home owned by the Priory Group is to close, leaving 25 elderly residents to be re-housed.

A spokesman for the Priory Group said the decision had been taken due to significant cost involved in refurbishing homes it acquired from Craegmoor in 2011, as well as low occupancy and difficulties in remaining sustainable in the face of low authority fees.

Anne Bailey, operations director for the Priory Group said: “The residents, our employees and the families of the people we support were told of this decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

“We would like to reassure everyone that we will be working closely with the 25 residents, their families and all agencies to help find alternative homes with as little disruption as possible.

“Staff will also be offered the opportunity to relocate to other homes within the wider group.

However, the daughter of one resident, who does not wish to be named, said she feels the group could have done more to consult residents.

“They said they can’t afford to bring it up to standard but I find it hard to believe a company as big as the Priory Group lacks money,” she said.

“It has been a long haul getting the right place for mum and the rug’s been pulled up from under us again.”

Trafford Council’s corporate director, Anne Higgins, said: “Immediately we became aware of the Priory group’s decision, we met with all the Trafford residents in the nursing home and their relatives.

“Staff were available to offer reassurance and answer all their questions about the next steps.

“We are committed to continuing to work with and support them over the coming weeks as together we identify the most suitable, alternative placements within Trafford for them.”