Greig Kelbie, UNISON regional organiser, on BBC Radio Scotland urging everyone to back UNISON’s campaign to save council run care homes in Edinburgh, and sign and leave a message on our online petition.
Save our care homes campaign
UNISON, the trade union for health and social care, has launched a campaign with care staff to save council run care homes in Edinburgh. The campaign follows proposals put forward by Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board to close Clovenstone, Ferrylee, Ford’s Road and Jewel House care homes. Furthermore, Drumbrae will also close as a care home and switch to hospital-based complex clinical care.
The proposals mean large scale disruption for care residents and 270 care home posts will be deleted and a further 160 care home jobs put at risk. Care staff are the process of writing to Edinburgh City Council leader councillor Adam McVey as part of UNISON’s on-going campaign to step in and save these council run care homes.
UNISON are also running an online petition to show councillors the depth of feelings of residents, staff and those in the wider community. Over 100 people signed the petition in one day. Further campaign action and demonstrations are planned.