People have ‘nothing to fear’ over Warwickshire care home closures

PEOPLE have “nothing to fear” from the closure of ten residential care homes in Warwickshire, a councillor said.

The county’s adult social care and health overview and scrutiny committee met at Shire Hall to discuss the plans for the first time since we broke the news on Tuesday.

The authority wants to close all ten of its care homes and replace them with ‘extra care’ homes and flats which have 24-hour care and which people can buy or rent to retain their independence.

The cost to the council of extra care – provided by independent organisations – would be half what it currently spends.

Committee chairman Coun Les Caborn (Con, Bishops Tachbrook) said he had visited similar schemes and said: “There is nothing to fear from these proposals.”

Two companies are bidding for the contract to build 20 extra care complexes in the county, with at least one in each town.

A spokesman for NHS Warwickshire said: “Too many individuals have been assessed as needing nursing care and a significant number of those have not needed that but there is no other option.”