Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

A Shireoaks woman has branded a care home in the village “heartless” after owners gave her just a month’s notice they were closing down.

Pam Beard’s mother - 92-year-old Jean Beddows - had been living at Newton House Care Home for only two weeks when she and husband David were told a week ago.

Shocked Pam described how the home’s owner delivered the news over the phone - saying “your mum’s alright but we’re going to close”.

Mum-of-three Pam and husband David were told the 12-bed home was closing because repairs to its broken lift - estimated at up to £125,000 - were too expensive.

Jean Beddows, pictured here in 1989, has been kicked out of her Shireoaks care home after just two weeks

Heartbroken Pam told how when they moved the great-grandmother-of-eight to a new care home on Friday she was “giddy” with excitement, thinking she was going home.

Pam, describing the traumatic move as “just so cruel”, said mum Jean had just started to settle into Newton House after a rocky start when the awful news came.

Worksop eight-year-old makes and sells soap to feed struggling families

The couple had been caring for former mental health worker Jean - who has dementia - for eight months in their own home before she moved into her new home at the beginning of February.

Grandmother-of-five Pam, 68, said: “What makes me really angry about all this is that they obviously knew they were going to close when they took my mum in.

“They shouldn’t have taken her in for just two weeks and caused all this upset - it’s cruel and heartless.”

Pam’s husband David, 72, told how the couple had been “relieved” to see Jean placed at a “lovely home” after struggling to care for her for months.

He added: “She was just starting to feel settled and now all the relatives have had to find new homes for their loved ones - it’s been a nightmare and it’s just wrong.

“All this stuff about the broken lift just feels like an excuse – a lot of these residents have dementia and people have been given no notice.

“I don’t know the reason for the closure but it all feels a bit underhanded.”

Worksop Guardian has contacted Newton House Care Home for comment.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

Shireoaks care home branded “heartless” over short-notice closure

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.