As Hollins Care Centre in Cimla, Neath Port Talbot prepares to close its doors, the evaporation of a once vibrant community leaves in its wake a sense of loss likened to a familial split. The decision of Neath Port Talbot Council to withdraw funding has resulted in about 70 residents and 94 staff members facing the challenge of imminent relocation and unemployment respectively.
Rita Riddell, aged 75, who has found her abode in the care home for the past year alongside her husband Brian, moved out of the premises last week. Distraught by the sudden upheaval, she commented, “We’re all upset, every one of us. It’s just so quick. We’ve got used to everyone and they’re like family. It’s like losing your family. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and I’ve been well looked after. All the carers are fantastic.”
The Council’s decision to discontinue its contract with the privately-run care home pivots on unmet standards, a claim that is contested by the owner, Ben Jenkins. The Council cites inadequate staffing, poor hygiene and infection control, among other issues, while reassuring that efforts have been made to tactfully communicate the situation to all families.
Caught between the residents’ distress over the impending relocation and the staff’s worry about their future, the impending closure of Hollins Care Centre is leaving an indelible mark on its community.
Helen Davies, a senior carer at the Centre, spoke directly about the Christmas season job uncertainties as the exact closure date remains unknown. She said, “We haven’t been given an actual date of closure so if I apply for a job, I can’t say ‘I can start on 1 December’ because we don’t know when the doors are going to close.”
Owner Ben Jenkins admits that the facility has room for improvement, but he maintains that the care quality remains undiminished. He insists, “We have found no evidence that suggests the reason for this action.”
In a collaborative statement, Neath Port Talbot Council and Swansea Bay University Health Board emphasized the prioritization of the residents’ welfare and wellbeing. Rigorous reviews and checks are performed to ensure the standards set by the council are met by privately managed care homes, and steps are taken when these conditions fall short, they added.
As the bleak days pass by, the union representing the care home staff pledges support to its members during this transition period. The council is working closely with the health board for the smooth relocation of residents over the following weeks and months – a silver lining to an otherwise bleak horizon.
