GMB is calling for an urgent meeting with the health minister as well as the northern health trust as 80 staff has been put on notice that they are to be made redundant unless suitable alternative employment can be found.
While it was hopeful that a buyer could be found and that an expression of interest had been lodged questions need answering as to why after nearly 8 week since the original announcement the buyer has withdrawn their offer.
Garvagh is set in a rural location with many if not all of the staff living in the surrounding areas. To find jobs is going to be extremely difficult.
GMB along with the other unions are meeting with the company on Friday when hopefully answers will be given as we enter into a period of consultation.
Even at this stage we would appeal to other operators of care homes in the area to see if they would be interested in taking over the running of the home.
Four Seasons Health Care; announced in December that they had received an expression of interest to take over the operation of Garvagh care home as a going concern. Consequently they postponed the process of the proposed closure of the home, to allow the prospective buyer to progress to an offer.
In the intervening period the proposed sale has not progressed and unfortunately the expression of interest has now been withdrawn. As a result, we have reluctantly re-started the process of consulting with the trade unions and the employees at the home about its possible closure. Should the home’s closure be confirmed, we would like to retain as many employees as we can within the Four Seasons Group.
A representative said: ‘’We will work with the Health and Social Care Trust and do everything we can to support residents and their families to transfer to suitable alternative placements if the home’s closure cannot be avoided. At present, we are proposing to close to the home during May 2016.’’
Sales of three other homes are progressing. These are: Antrim Care Home, Oakridge Care Home in Ballynahinch and Hamilton Court in Armagh.
For more information please contact,
Alan Perry
GMB Trade Union
1a Victoria Road
Holywood
Bt18 9 BA
07974018410
02890393340
