AM & MP fight to Save Crosfield House

11.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 10th Jun 2008

Kirsty Williams AM, for Brecon and Radnorshire, will today join local campaigners at a public meeting and demonstration in County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, to speak out in support of Crosfield House Care Home in Rhayader.

The British Legion has opened a consultation on the future of the care home following funding difficulties.

Kirsty Williams AM said:"I share the outrage of local people at the proposed closure plans and will be doing all I can to ensure that this essential and quality home remains open to care not only for its current elderly residents but also for the future residents of the area.

"This is the only royal British legion Care Home in the whole of Wales and it cannot be lost, not only for the sake of those who currently receive the first rate care but also for the sake of the local people who are employed by the home.

"My colleague Roger Williams MP and I have had discussions with both the Chief Executive of Powys County Council and the Head of Adult Services & Commissioning to seek workable alternatives to closure. I will next week be meeting with Powys County Council Officers to find a way to take these propositions forward with the Royal British Legion.

"I will be calling upon the Assembly Government to support the retention of Crosfield House in Rhayader."

Kirsty Williams AM and Roger Williams MP for Brecon and Radnorshire along with Brecon RAFA Club recently met with the Rhayader Branch of the British Legion to put forward concerns about the proposals.

Roger Williams MP said: "Crosfield House has a particularly good record for caring for those with dementia and forward projections show that as medicine becomes more adept at keeping us alive for longer many more of us will succumb to conditions that to date cannot be cured such as Alzheimer's. With an ageing population now is not the time to be closing such essential services.

"I have already raised my concerns with the Chief Executive of the Royal British Legion in London and on the 19th June I will be accompanying a delegation to meet with the Trustees of the Royal British Legion in London to call upon them to reverse this decision."

Notes:

The consultation closes on 22nd June 2008; for further information contact 0207 973 7256 or crosfield@britishlegion.org.uk