Care home closures threaten 162 staff and patients (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire care home closures threaten 162 staff and patients

10:17am Thursday 24th May 2012 in Winchester

THREE care homes run by Hampshire County Council have been earmarked for closure as part of a shake-up of elderly care.

County chiefs are proposing to shut Cornerways in Kingsworthy near Winchester, Addenbrooke in Gosport and a care home in Fleet.

If it goes ahead with the plans, 51 elderly, vulnerable residents, some with dementia, will be forced to move home and 111 jobs will be axed. Residents range in age from 74 to 101.

Two day centres for the elderly at Cornerways and Addenbrooke will also be relocated under the proposals. Currently Cornerways provides day care to 45 pensioners.

A council report has warned moving elderly residents “might cause upset and worries”. But the council has said it will work with residents, families and social workers to decide on the most appropriate alternative accommodation.

The council plans to offer care home staff voluntary redundancy or work in other care homes.

The county's executive member for adult social care is due to decide whether to launch a three-month public consultation tomorrow.

Council chiefs have promised 100 per cent of the profits from selling the three sites will be ploughed into new facilities for the elderly.