5m care home plan brings hope of jobs

Article taken from the shropshirestar.com

A £5 million extension to a Shropshire care home could bring 50 jobs to the county if planners give the project the go ahead.

The number of staff at Woodcote Hall Nursing Home, near Newport, could double as care home bosses look to build an extra 90 bedrooms and health spa as part of the multi-million pound revamp.

Select Healthcare, owners of Woodcote Hall, has lodged its application with Telford & Wrekin Council.

Brett Bernard, from Select Healthcare Group, said the investment into Shropshire was a sign of the company’s commitment to the county.

He said: “Select Healthcare has submitted a planning application with the purpose of providing 90 brand new bedrooms and replacing and refurbishing some of the existing accommodation.

“We also plan to provide high specification facilities which we believe will benefit the people of Telford and Wrekin.

“Woodcote Hall is rich in history which can be traced back as far as the Domesday Book.

“As part of our extensive renovations we plan to bring the Hall back to its former glory.

“It is anticipated that the project will cost £5 million to complete and will create approximately 50 new jobs for the local area.”

The plans will also put an end to constant criticism from councils over the notorious exit from the home onto the A41, which is on a severe bend.

Several accidents have happened on the stretch but today Select Healthcare revealed the exit would now be re-located.

The application includes the closure of the home’s current exit and the opening of a new one about 200 metres away.

The planning application comes as seven staff from the home received palliative care qualifications for their excellent standards in “end of life” care.

The home also scooped a number of awards in both the Shropshire and West Midlands Care Awards last year.

Manager Kay Davies said the staff worked very hard for the most recent stamp of approval.

Having run the home for almost two years, she said that they had constantly strived to improve standards.

She said: “Seven members of the team managed to get the awards and they have been working very hard towards achieving this.”

By Jason Lavan