Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Families voice concern for loved ones as Burdett House in Histon faces closure




Families of elderly residents in a sheltered housing block have spoken of their outrage at plans to close down the home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Relatives criticised the charity Abbeyfield Society, which runs Burdett House in Station Road, Histon.

The residents of Burdett House with Liberal Democrat councillors
The residents of Burdett House with Liberal Democrat councillors

The home was earmarked for closure at the end of last year but it was given a six-month reprieve until June 30, 2020.

Now residents have been sent a letter saying that the charity was “keen to stick to this deadline”. It said the charity was “able to resume the closure of Burdett House, without putting anybody (resident or staff) to any unnecessary risk”.

Abbeyfield Society has since apologised “wholeheartedly” for the letter notifying residents the June 30 closure target had resumed, saying “this was sent in error”.

“We quickly remedied this by sending a further communication which made clear that no resident will be asked to move before suitable new accommodation has been found.

“To be entirely clear, any assertion that we will be evicting residents is categorically false,” a spokesperson said.

But the desire to move residents out remains a concern for Matt Harris, whose mum Deidre, 83, is a resident.

He said; “Despite the virus still being very much at large, and despite the fact that all residents are old and frail and therefore in the ultra-high risk demographic category, Abbeyfield sent my mother and all residents a letter stating they wanted to stick to the end of June deadline for closure.

“Old people are very obedient and don’t know their rights so they are starting to look for somewhere else to live. My mum is thinking ‘I don’t want to get the virus’ so she is telling her neighbours not to move out to another home.”

He said one resident had visited an alternative home that has previously recorded a number of Covid-19 deaths.

Deirdre Harris with grandson Marcellus
Deirdre Harris with grandson Marcellus

“I think it is the wrong time to be telling residents their sheltered accommodation is closing and making them believe they have to move out during a pandemic. It could kill them,” he said. “I think this is a poor show for a charity that’s supposed to look after old people. I think the founder would be spinning in his grave.”

Another resident, Brian White, 84, who is blind, has been “very stressed” about the possible move, according to his daughter-in-law Ashleigh White.

She said: “He told me he couldn’t get the worry out of his head. His wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and had to move into a home so he moved in to Burdett House knowing he had the company of the other residents and security for the rest of his days while his wife was in a dementia care home.

“He thought it was settled and safe and would be his forever home

“As he is completely blind it took him a while to settle into a new building finding his way around and I don’t know how he is going to cope in a completely new home.”

The charity said it does not have a new target closure date.

It said: “As the government has now reduced the threat level of coronavirus, has eased social distancing policies, and has advised that it is safe for people to view and move to new accommodation, we are confident the closure can now resume in a safe and managed way.

“Our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of our residents and staff team, however it remains a fact that Burdett House must be closed as it is no longer suitable accommodation for the residents living there and is not financially sustainable.”

The charity said the planned closure follows an 18-month review and a four-month consultation process.

Cllr Pippa Heylings
Cllr Pippa Heylings

Cllr Pippa Heylings (Lib Dem, Histon & Impington) called it a “scandal” and “a war of attrition at play during the pandemic”.

The South Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have set up a petition at sclibdems.org.uk/burdett_house_closure calling on the CEO of Abbeyfield, David McCullough, to intervene and “stop all types of pressure on residents to find alternative accommodation during the pandemic”.

Abbeyfield says: “All residents living at Burdett House are private tenants, who are subject to the same coronavirus guidance as the general population – meaning the government has deemed it safe for them to have visits both inside and outdoors, providing they follow the appropriate social distancing guidance.”

On the issue of not contacting family members about resuming the closure plans, a spokesperson for Abbeyfield said: “As the residents all have the mental capacity and legal right to make their own decisions about their housing, it is entirely appropriate that we communicate with them directly about decisions that affect them, unless they have nominated another person to act on their behalf. In such a case, a letter would also be sent to the nominated individual.

“That said, we do our best to keep relatives up-to-date throughout and endeavour to engage with them openly, when appropriate.”

Additional reporting by Ben Hatton, Local Democracy Reporter

Read more

How a robotic cat has helped dementia patient Doreen

Cambridge police’s proposed move to Milton - have your say on the plans



Comments | 0
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More