“Material differences” on price have prevented progress in government’s acquisition of the Corrin Memorial Home, following its closure due to running costs in 2021.
Glenfaba and Peel MHK Katryna Baptist asked Minister for Health and Social Care Claire Christian whether progress had been made in negotiations with trustees of the facility, and what the proposed outcomes are for elderly care provision in the west.
Ms Christian has replied in a written Tynwald answer: “Work was undertaken to explore whether an acquisition could be justified.
“This included Government and independent valuations of the site, consideration of its potential future uses and assessment of the conditions which the Trustees wished to attach to any disposal.
She concluded: “Ultimately, there remained material differences between the parties regarding valuation, the assumptions underpinning those valuations and the conditions associated with a potential sale.”
No Plan for Elderly Care
Additionally, the minister addressed the ongoing concerns over provision for the elderly population in the west of the island.
“In relation to future elderly care provision in the West, there is currently no approved proposal or specific capital programme for additional residential or nursing-home capacity and no budget has been allocated for such a development,” she said.
She went on to reassure Ms Baptist that such issues would be covered in wider departmental strategies, saying: “The future needs of Peel and the West will form an important part of a longer-term Health and Social Care strategy that the Department will be developing.
This will include assessing our changing population and community needs, geographical access to services and striking the right balanced between residential care, nursing care, care at home and wider community-based support.