Madam,

There is much said about the unsuitability of Plas Morolwg as a site for extra-care housing (ECH), but does Ceredigion need ECH at all?

The new Aberystwyth development will cost residents somewhere in the order of £1,000 per month, plus care costs. How many older people in Aberystwyth can afford that sort of outlay, especially in light of the fact that the government plans to limit housing benefit for older people in 2019?

Presumably, the ECH resident will be someone experiencing health and social care difficulties which require support and which will likely deteriorate further over time.

This, though, does seem to be at odds with the ‘care at home’ approach of health and social services, which advocates that most, even complex, care can be delivered at home.

So what is the actual role of ECH? Is it to offer choice? If that choice boils down to finances, then it is not universally available to all and is unjust.

Is it just a case then that the county council can boast three state-of-the-art ECH complexes, when the truth is that what Ceredigion requires is more EMI and dementia provision along with residential and nursing care.

What is needed is for health and social care bodies not to follow trends, in order to be seen as progressive and to garner plaudits, but to actually provide what is needed.

If health and social care are to work together, let it be to ensure that we have a cake in place before trying to add the icing.

Yours etc,

George Holloway, Rhoshendre, Waunfawr, Aberystwyth.

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