BEN Alexandra House Care Centre welcomes Dr John Pugh MP

UK Charity BEN was pleased to welcome Southport MP, Dr John Pugh to its Alexandra House Care Centre on Lord Street on Friday, 12 March 2010.

During his visit Dr Pugh spent time with staff and residents and presented a long-service award to Jan Holmes and an NVQ2 award to carer Karen Porter.

Alexandra House is owned and operated by BEN, the UK's automotive and related industries’ charity. On the day of Dr Pugh’s visit, the home had its 5 star quality assurance rating confirmed for the 6th successive year and currently enjoys a 3 star ‘excellent’ rating from the Care Quality Commission.

BEN’s Director of Care Services, Jenny Brown said:- “We were very pleased to meet Dr Pugh last Friday and welcomed his advice about some of our long-term concerns about the level of fees paid by local authorities and primary care trusts which quite often do not meet the actual costs of providing good quality care. BEN is fortunate to have the financial support of the automotive and related industries but even so, we had to make redundancies in 2009 in order to maintain the exceptionally high standards our centres are renowned for. Other care centres not supported by charitable donations may not be so lucky and be forced to make cutbacks which will impact on the levels of care provided. Our ageing population means that how the UK pays for care – now, and in the future - is a very real and significant problem for all of us. I would like to reassure our residents, their families and our staff that we have no plans to close Alexandra House. Rather, we need the support of people like Dr Pugh to ensure its future and a future in which our older people can feel confident that their care needs will be met in full and without quality being compromised.”

Mayor Honours success of Southport home care business

DEPUTY Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Maureen Fearne, paid tribute to local at-home care business Home Instead Senior Care, as she and Mayor’s Consort Frank Winrow officiated at the opening ceremony of their new office.

Owners of Home Instead Senior Care in Southport, Anthea Pilkington and Irene Godwin who opened their original office in April 2007, have seen the business go from strength to strength. The move to larger premises at 63 Scarisbrick New Road was needed to enable the company to offer more facilities and support for older people as well as anyone in need of care services in the area.

To celebrate the grand opening, the team at Home Instead were joined by clients and their families, local associations and businesses, who enjoyed refreshments and a tour of the new premises with the Deputy Mayor and Consort.

Irene who welcomed the Deputy Mayor talked about the growing demand for quality care. “We were delighted that the Deputy Mayor was able to join us and meet with some of our clients and Caregivers. We are passionately committed to providing the highest levels of at- home care to our clients and to be able to do that we employ a team of fantastic carers,” she continued. We also realised that people struggle when they realise they are in need of care and just don’t know where to go or who to speak to. We wanted to provide a holistic service for local people and we now have a dedicated area in the new office where anyone who is looking for advice and support on matters involving not just care, but legal and financial advice as well, can come along and find out more.”

DISTRACTION BURGLARY IN DINGLE AREA

MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for information following a distraction burglary, during which a 95 year old woman had her savings stolen from her home.  The distraction burglary happened at around 3.30pm on Thursday, 4 March 2010, when a man, claiming to be from her housing association, came into her flat in sheltered accommodation on Hill Street in Dingle.  It is thought that he kept her occupied while a second offender came into the flat and stole a large quantity of cash. The man is described as white, in his mid 20s, with a medium build and about 5'3"-5'5" tall. He had black short hair and was wearing a black jacket and dark trousers. He had a Liverpool accent.  Neighbourhood Inspector Stuart Quirk said:- "This has been frightening and callous offence, and one that the victim was reluctant to report. Neighbourhood officers had heard that there had been a burglary in the area and made great efforts to reassure and support the victim as she made her complaint. We are working closely with her housing association, looking at ways of making the residents feel more secure and encouraging them to report anything suspicious. I would like to remind people to be on their guard and to never let anyone into your property without first checking their identity. Genuine callers will not mind waiting at the door while you check with their identity with their employers before being let in."  Anyone with information is asked to call Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 5364 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.