Anger and heart-break as north Wales care homes to close

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Morfa Newydd Care Home in Greenfield and the Gwastad Hall Care Home in Cefn-y-Bedd near Wrexham have gone into administration.

It’s understood that staff in both homes were given four weeks’ notice and that the owners have been working with Flintshire and Wrexham councils to find alternative accommodation for residents.

Around 91 beds will be lost when the care homes close their doors come the end of the month.

The Leader has this week spoken to just some of those people - both staff and family members of residents - who will be affected by the closures.

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Nia Hewitt's mum, Winifred Glenys Jones, is one of those residents who has been forced to find somewhere else to live.

The family has been working tirelessly to find her a new home since the announcement was made and have done so as she will be moving into the Emral House in Wrexham.

But Nia says the closure of Gwastad Hall feels like 'losing a family'.

She added: "My mum moved to the Gwastad two years ago from Llangollen Fechan. We settled her in quickly and everyone there became like a family to her.

"It was somewhere where we could take the grandchildren for fetes at Christmas and in the summer - I never thought for one minute that it would close as it is a beautiful building with lovely gardens too.

"The news that it was going to be closing down came as a complete and utter shock. We've been running around for days looking for somewhere else for my mum to go and luckily we have done that now, but it's been very stressful.

"She was very upset by the news and it was the anxiety and the not knowing where she would be going next that was the worst for her I think."

PIC: Gwastad Hall.

Nia, who lives in Penyffordd, added: "Social services wanted to move her to Conwy, Rhyl or Prestatyn but we were determined to keep her close. She's a little bit further away now but at least she's still in Wrexham - otherwise it would have been harder for us to go and see her. I'm an only child myself, so she could have ended up alone if she moved further away.

"It's all been very emotional, including seeing all the staff in tears. It's horrible for the residents as they'll be used to a routine which will now have to be changed.

"It was always a happy and lovely atmosphere at Gwastad and we will miss it."

Holly Crabtree, who has worked at Morfa Newydd for the last two years, called the closures 'criminal'.

She told the Leader: "Some of the residents are too sick to move and they've all been given no more than four weeks notice about all of this. It's been hard trying to find homes for all the residents as there's no beds.

"As for us staff, I myself have two kids with mouths to feed so it's been a worry but I'm one of the lucky ones who has found a job somewhere else.

"To a lot of the residents who are having to move, we're the only family they've got.

"The whole thing is just criminal, it shouldn't be allowed to have happened. We've been saying our goodbyes to residents when we shouldn't have to do that."

Another member of staff from Morfa Newydd, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's been absolutely awful having to watch residents leave their home.

PIC: Morfa Newydd.

"Flintshire Council have been doing their best to help us all find other jobs, but I'm very angry about the situation - the people who run the care home haven't given us any information at all, our boss had to tell us the news - it's wrong.

"We've had 12 residents move out today, it's heart-breaking. The whole situation is diabolical, we're all upset with the way it's been done and the way we have been treated."

The two closures follow the closure of the 16-bed Bay Court Care Home in Kinmel Bay and the 28-bed Trewythen Hall Care Home in Gresford which have both been shut down recently.

Andrea Hughes, Betsi Cadwaladr Universtiy Health Board's east director of nursing, said: “We wholeheartedly sympathise with those residents and families affected by the closure of the care homes. 

"We know this will be extremely distressing and we are working very closely with our local authority partners to arrange appropriate, alternative homes which can meet the needs of residents under our care as soon as possible."

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council added: “This will be an anxious time for many people, and we will work closely with the families affected to help them find suitable accommodation elsewhere for their relatives.

“We’ll also continue to work closely with the health board and other key partners to try and mitigate the impact of ongoing winter pressures on local health and care services.”

“We’re committed to supporting the care sector across the county. Care fees are set yearly using the North Wales Care Fees tool.”

Flintshire County’s Council’s Chief Officer Social Services, Neil Ayling said: “We have been informed by the care provider, MN Opco Limited, that they are closing the home (Morfa Newydd) and working towards a closure date of February 27, 2023. 

"The council is working closely with our Health Board colleagues to arrange the safe transfer of individuals from Morfa Newydd Nursing Home to other appropriate care homes in the area who can meet the needs of individuals and their families”.

Both care homes have been approached for comment.