Dear Trustees
We write as the MHKs for Glenfaba and Peel to reflect the concern and dismay over the shock announcement of the imminent closure of the Corrin Home in July.
First of all we would express our concern that we were only told of the imminent closure at the same time as the public residents and staff which has left little time to work with or prepare a response to the closures.
There remain many unanswered questions around this, not least why we were not informed and involved at an earlier stage before the same become almost a fait accompli.
Obviously we would like to assist and facilitate in any way we can and have engaged with a number of parties, including Manx Care, DHSC (Minister Ashford), the Chief Minister, Director of Health, Treasury and of course the community and staff of the care home.
The only engagement that we have not had is with you as Trustees and in this respect there seems to be a total disconnect between the various charities and the operating company with regard to current resource accounts and the vision going forward. You will see an attachment from the charities register and we see there are four Corrin related charities; Corrin Holdings, Corrin Memorial Home Comforts Committee, Corrin Memorial Home Comforts Fund (Governors Accounts), The Corrin Memorial Home.
A fundamental question that we have been asked as MHK’s on numerous occasions is how much money you as the Trustees hold. As you will be aware there is a public meeting on Monday 17th and we hope that one or all of you will attend and answer these questions.
As we understand it residents should have been given 6 months’ notice and we request an explanation around the 1st July as a closure date.
It has also been mooted that as the site was put in Trust for a hospital or health related use, that you undertake to transfer the site to DHCS/Government at low cost, looking to the future for the provision of a much needed new facilities in the west, this fulfilling the wishes of the Corrin family.
We have also been asked questions around management of the home over a period of time and why the fundamental issue of addressing occupancy staffing levels, building maintenance, costs and overall management control have not been addressed over the last few years.
It is a sad day for the west and more so for the residents, their relatives and the dedicated staff of the home.
It is our opinion, bearing in mind we believe there are restrictions on the use of the site, that there needs to be a strategic plan for residential care going forward that should involve the Corrin Home and/or the site and we sincerely hope that rumours circulating that the Trustees are hoping to close the home and sell the site for residential development are without foundation.
We would be pleased to meet with you before Mondays meeting to discuss all of these issues which we believe should have been aired before announcement of the closure.
Kind regards
Geoffrey Boot MHK and Ray Harmer MHK
Ray Harmer 
Excellent letter. Just what is needed
LikeLike
Hi. I note that you have said that “the site was put in Trust for a hospital or health related use”, If you can have a look at the Trust Deed there may well be provisions for what happens to the site when the Trustees ‘give up’ on its current use. The Trust may have to continue in the same vein whether the Trustees like it or not.
LikeLike
Yes – the chartered accountants that are embedded in all levels of the Corrin charity structures, and the ones that presumably drove the closure decision, have been completely invisible, an have left others to take the flack – there is a scandalous lack of transparency and accountability on the part of these key individuals…..
LikeLike
While this is a very sad situation it seems that Corrin Home eventually needs some major investment. The Directors have indicated this and advised it is no longer viable without major funding. They are not prepared to do this so it will ultimately fall on GOV and MANXCARE. You can split hairs till the cows come home who is responsible but that is the situation. Ashford has said publicly they will not fund but if Corrin Home closes it will default to this anyway. So why not put the money in now for a short term solution and long term plan for a new home in Peel
LikeLike
Pingback: Residential Home’s Board Criticises Ministers’ ‘Inaccuracies’ – Gef – Isle of Man