The planned sale of eight council-run care homes in Derbyshire, including The Leys where 96-year-old dementia patient Babette Ogle has lived for seven years, has collapsed just days before Christmas. This failure means the homes will be sold as buildings, forcing all residents to relocate. Nigel Ogle, Babette's son, expressed grave concerns that the upheaval could be detrimental to his mother's health, stating it could "kill her" due to the needs of dementia patients for familiarity. This situation mirrors a similar scare his mother faced last Christmas when the initial sale plans were announced.
Derbyshire County Council confirmed the failure of intensive negotiations with a proposed provider, with Councillor Joss Barnes expressing devastation and apologizing to residents, families, and staff. He emphasized that the council did everything possible to finalize the sale but it was not feasible due to commercial sensitivities. Local MP John Whitby has urged the council to reverse its decision and save the homes, criticizing both the previous Conservative administration for putting them up for sale and the current Reform administration for announcing their closure. Trade union Unison also voiced its dismay, highlighting months of uncertainty for families and staff, and called for intervention to prevent irreversible damage to residents and staff livelihoods.
