Sadness at council home closure

I read with sadness that the council is considering closing Whitbourne House Residential Home in order to save £250k.

My late father spent the twilight years of his life living there. It's a fantastic place, well run, with kind caring staff who put their residents first, at the heart of everything they do.

We as a family were really happy because Dad was safe and being well looked after. His room was number 10, the closest he ever got to Downing Street.

I am saddened that the council are looking to close this facility especially, when the need for residential social care accommodation is on the rise.

Without doubt, the numbers will increase as we live longer.

The council use the excuse of the cost of repair for the closure. I don't ever remember the place falling apart when Dad lived there.

Pound signs rather than the needs of the community, now or in the future, means it will be sold.

One less place on offer to families who need that type of facility for their loved ones.

It'll only increase the numbers having to move into the private sector which, in real terms, is a license to print money.

You wait, houses and flats will be built on the same site. Shame on Swindon Borough Council for its closure.

Alan Wilson

Nythe

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Pupils donate gift of life

Calling all secondary school teachers in Wiltshire. Young people are now learning about saving lives.

Blood, organ and stem cell donation are now on the key stage 3 and 4 curriculum and we have some free online resources to help you teach this important topic to 11 to 16 year olds.

Your pupils can be empowered to discuss and decide about donation and we hope they’ll prompt conversations at home too.

Visit nhsbt.nhs.uk/teaching-resources to find out more, we have detailed lessons and optional extra activities.

You can also request a speaker, many of whom have a personal story linked to donation, to attend a school assembly.

Alex Cullen

Head of Marketing

NHS Blood and Transplant