A COUNCILLOR and a stroke survivor have welcomed the news of a potential lifeline for a South Lakeland care home threatened with closure.

Last week it was announced that St Gregory’s Homecare has offered to take over the running of Holehird, near Troutbeck Bridge, from Leonard Cheshire.

Windermere councillor Christine Cook said she was ‘very pleased’ but that there was still a ‘long way to go’.

A final decision on the takeover is not expected until next month.

“I am very pleased that St Gregory’s Homecare have made an offer to take over Holehird but there is a long way to go and many points to address before we will know whether this can become a reality,” she said.

“Holehird has been a fabulous, specialist care home and I really hope a way forward can be found and a new provider confirmed as soon as possible.

“I know that a lot of people are working very hard to achieve this.”

And chair of Patient and Carer Integrated Stroke and Neurorehabilitation Delivery Network Assurance Group for Lancashire & South Cumbria, Phil Woodford, also welcomed the news.

“This hasn't been about securing the future of a building, it is much bigger than that, Holehird is home to a group of people who require specialist care and support,” he said.

“It must remain a very anxious time for the staff involved too, my thanks go out to them for everything that they do to care for these people.

“There's still a little way to go to make it a certainty, but I wish everyone involved the very best and again, thank you.

“As a stroke survivor myself I know how valuable such specialist care is."

Last week, St Gregory’s Homecare, Leonard Cheshire, the Holehird Trust and Tim Farron MP issued a joint statement on the future of the care home, which said: “Since Leonard Cheshire took the decision that it could no longer provide care at Holehird, we’ve been working hard to try to find a new provider to take over the running of the home.

“Holehird has provided amazing care for people of all ages with physical disabilities and complex needs for the past 60 years.

“So we’re delighted that St Gregory’s Homecare have come forward to offer to take over the running of Holehird and we’ve been working together to try to make this a reality.

“There are still several hurdles to overcome and there is no certainty that it will be achieved, but we wanted to make this statement to give confidence that we are committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for Holehird and the wider community.”