A WOMAN whose mother died in a closure-threatened care home has pleaded for it to be saved.

Susanne Wilkinson’s mother, Catherine Matthews, died of natural causes in Hackworth House, in Shildon, just hours after Durham County Council approved the start of consultations on its closure.

Mrs Wilkinson, 60, contacted The Northern Echo to voice her opposition to closure before the decision, when her mother was still alive. She has now decided to speak out in the hope it will save Hackworth House.

She said: “The care was excellent.

I can’t fault the staff.

They did everything they could for mum, right until the very end. I think it would be a shame if it closed.”

Mrs Wilkinson said that one carer kept a constant vigil at her mother’s bedside, staying with her until she died.

“The staff went beyond the call of duty – nothing’s too much trouble for them,” she said.

Mrs Wilkinson said that although the home would benefit from some modernisation, it had been recently decorated, and that if en suite facilities were available, some residents would not be able to use them without help.

She called on councillors to think carefully before deciding whether to close the home.

Mrs Matthews, a greatgrandmother, lived in Shildon all her life. She worked as a shop assistant at Doggart’s, in Bishop Auckland.

She moved into Hackworth House in November 2008, four months after the death of her husband, Victor, who was 86.

Mrs Matthews suffered from dementia and Mrs Wilkinson had not discussed the possible closure of the home with her.

Mrs Matthews died on January 20, aged 90.

A Durham County Council spokeswoman said: “We were very sorry to hear of the death of Mrs Matthews and offer our condolences to her family. We are pleased that her family valued the care that she received during her stay at Hackworth House.

“We are currently consulting with residents, carers, relatives and staff on the future of Hackworth House and six other council-owned care homes in the county, and would encourage anyone affected by the proposed closures to put forward their views as part of this consultation, which runs until Friday, April 30.”

To have your say, call 0191- 372-5594.

■ DO you have a relative in a home affected? Call Mark Tallentire on 0191-384-4600.