Trefula Care Home Residents Face Relocation Amid Safety Concerns and Closure Plans

Residents of Trefula care home in Cornwall are facing an upheaval as Cornwall Council's care business, Corserv, has announced plans to relocate them due to the facility being deemed "not fit for purpose." The decision comes in light of ongoing concerns regarding the building's structural integrity and compliance with health and safety regulations, as highlighted in a critical inspection report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) prior to Corserv's takeover in August 2019. Since the acquisition, there has been a recognized need for redevelopment, with aspirations to construct a new care home on the same site. However, the council has encountered significant challenges in moving forward with these plans. A council spokesperson explained that potential developers have indicated that the existing service cannot continue while redevelopment is pursued, primarily due to the current state of the building requiring substantial investment to meet safety standards. In response to the pressing concerns, staff at Trefula are now collaborating with the NHS to assess the needs of residents and facilitate their transition to alternative care homes. This process involves evaluating each resident's situation alongside their families to ensure that suitable placements are found in the local area. The timeline for this relocation process suggests that all residents should be moved by March 2025, after which Trefula will be permanently closed. Acknowledging the impact of these changes, the spokesperson emphasized that Corserv intends to redeploy staff from Trefula into other roles within the organization wherever feasible. This plan aims to mitigate the emotional and economic effects of the closure on the workforce while ensuring that residents are prioritized during this transitional phase. As Cornwall grapples with the challenge of providing adequate care facilities, the situation at Trefula raises broader questions about the state of care homes in the region and the urgent need for investment in infrastructure. The council's commitment to developing a new facility underscores a recognition of the community's evolving needs, but it also highlights the complexities involved in implementing such changes while maintaining quality care for vulnerable residents.