Night time carers are to be axed at two council run retirement communities to save cash, affecting older residents in 107 flats.

The council will remove the two members of sleep-in staff from extra care housing schemes at Red Bank in Radcliffe and the Falcon and Griffin complex in Bury, despite safety fears expressed by some residents and their family members.

A care worker currently sleeps overnight at both Red Bank and Falcon and Griffin to respond to any overnight emergencies from residents.

However, after a four-week pilot scheme last year, the council has decided to remove both the sleep-in staff roles.

They will now operate a night-time response service from a "hub" at Peachment Place, the third extra care home operated by the council in the borough.

Current waking-night staff at Peachment Place will now respond to any emergencies at all three care facilities.

Falcon and Griffin is an extra care scheme for older people with care needs run by the council.

Bury Times: The Falcon and Griffin siteThe Falcon and Griffin site (Image: Supplied)

The 69-flat scheme has been designed to provide affordable housing in independent apartments for older people requiring support.

Similarly, Red Bank in Radcliffe has 38 extra care apartments, both say they provide a "24 hour emergency call system in case you need a helping hand".

Bury Times: The Red Bank schemeThe Red Bank scheme (Image: Supplied)

The council said it accepted that some residents and family members raised concerns during a consultation period and disagreed with the proposal.

It said complaints included the need for safety and reassurance.

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The report added: “The council has a growing demand for services, an increase in costs due to inflation and reduced income.

“We must therefore find new and more efficient ways of working.

“This option will promote independence for tenants, streamline services, generate efficiencies, and create opportunities to develop a ‘night-time response hub’ that could respond to other extra care schemes we plan to develop across the borough.”

The report added that a four-week pilot last year ran "safely and effectively with the new proposed model in place".