Security for Empty Gloucester Care Facility Could Cost £520,000 a Year

Concerns have emerged regarding the significant expense of securing the recently closed Great Western Court care facility in Gloucester, which could reach £520,000 annually while the building remains empty.

Gloucestershire County Council decided last month to close the short-term reablement unit on Millbrook Street, deeming it surplus to current requirements. This facility had provided residential care for patients transitioning from hospital but has stood vacant since March.

Council officials explained that the care model previously offered no longer aligns with the evolving needs of both the council and the health service. During a recent Adult Social Care and Communities Committee meeting on May 12, it was revealed that maintaining 24-hour security at the site would cost approximately £10,000 per week.

Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, chair of the committee, described this figure as a “hefty” security expense. She emphasized that £10,000 weekly equates to around £520,000 annually for continuous surveillance. Councillor Trimnell also sought reassurance that these security costs would not impact the adult social care budget, which officers confirmed they would not.

Additionally, Councillor Sajid Patel inquired about future plans for Great Western Court, questioning whether proceeds from a potential sale would be reinvested into new reablement services.

Sarah Scott, the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, clarified that the beds at the facility were commissioned by the NHS to support post-hospital patients. However, Great Western Court was registered with the Care Quality Commission exclusively for residential support, not nursing care. This registration limitation prevented it from accommodating patients requiring nursing care, which is typically arranged in nursing homes commissioned by the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Due to these restrictions, the facility was underutilized and increasingly costly to operate. Scott noted that the council is now considering alternative uses for the building or opting to sell the site altogether.