A RUNCORN care home was closed recently following an inspection.

This is not the first care home in the borough to be closed in recent years because the care provided has been judged to be sub-standard.

I for one would not take these closures to be representative of care homes in general.

I am sure most of them provide comfort for the elderly and infirm and they provide a vital service.

However I think it is a complete misconception that homes can provide 24-hour care.

It is practically impossible not only for care homes but hospitals also.

There was a tragic case recently of an elderly man who had a fall in his room which subsequently led to his death.

The son of the elderly man who died was heartbroken, not just because of his dad’s death but that it was not his decision to put him into the care home.

That decision was taken by his sister, who had not visited their dad for 18 months but had power of attorney.

It was the son who had been looking after his dad at a bungalow.

Anthony Quinn

Coronet Way

Widnes