South Shropshire dementia unit that was hit by flash floods reopens with a party as evacuated residents return
A south Shropshire nursing home's dementia unit has reopened following extensive refurbishment after heavy rain and flash floods left the ground floor under water and residents needing to be evacuated.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The specialist Garden Suite at Stretton Hall Nursing Home in All Stretton, near Church Stretton, had to be evacuated after floodwater started pouring into the home on September 26. Water from the Batch Valley surged into properties in All Stretton following torrential rain which caused chaos across Shropshire.
The team at Stretton Hall, with the help of volunteers from Church Stretton Fire Station, swiftly evacuated residents from the dementia household and led them to safety.
They were initially housed in a makeshift dormitory in the main building, before some went to the nursing home itself while others were transferred to a Morris Care centre in Wellington.
Now, just in time for Christmas, the unit has been restored and the residents have been welcomed back with a reopening party hosted by the home's caring team, attended by residents, their families and the Stretton Belly Dancers.
Andy Munro, mayor of Church Stretton, officially opened the new and improved Garden Suite, which has been completely restored with new floorings, fittings and furnishings.
The mayor said: “It is brilliant to see the Stretton Hall dementia unit reopened after floods wreaked such havoc. I witnessed the extent of the water damage back in September and the transformation between then and now is incredible.
"It’s wonderful that the residents are now back where they belong and it was a pleasure to meet so many of them and their families at the reopening.”
Karen Powell, Stretton Hall general manager, said: “It’s a great relief that our dementia Garden Suite is up and running again - and looking better than ever. We have missed all our residents and are so pleased to have them back in the Stretton Hall family again.
“The local community has been fabulous in their support, offering their time and skills to deliver such a swift turnaround for the home.”
Stretton Hall is set in an 18th century building in the heart of All Stretton. The period building, which was once a grand hotel, has been redeveloped to create private living spaces with state-of-the-art care. The home provides high-quality nursing, dementia, palliative, respite, day care and elderly care.
