Kirkholt residents fears over new care home unfounded

Date published: 02/04/2007

Councillor Dale Mulgrew and local community activist Liz Thirsk have responded to community fears over the construction of a new residential care facility behind Saint Thomas Church on Cavendish Road, Kirkholt by posing a question regarding its future occupancy - the site is to the rear of the church on the former site of the church hall.
 
Rumours have abounded about the future makeup of residents at this new care facility, which has been constructed by the healthcare company Exemplar Health Care. There has been a lot of unease because local neighbours thought it was going to be used as a centre for mental health patients or a disaffected youth home, all which had caused some anxiety.
 
However, Exemplar health, who already run a couple of health care schemes in Rochdale, have confirmed that it will be a care facility for patients who suffer from neurological degenerative conditions such as strokes, Hodgkin disease and motor neurone disease.

Councillor Mulgrew was reasonably happy that this should end the public discontent, he said: "This confirms what was first indicated to me last year that this care home will be used in a way which should hold no fear for local residents. Moreover, this should quell any further noises of unrest which up until now were only naturally being deduced through the lack of public information concerning the site."
 
Local activist Liz Thirsk said: "Having worked in Kirkholt for the Community Re-start Team I have an understanding of some of the problems that these illnesses and conditions degenerate into and so this will be an excellent way of providing care within the community for some of our more needy individuals who require 24 hour attention and support."