None of Bournemouth’s 95 care homes up to today’s care standards

A SOCIAL services boss has claimed that “none” of Bournemouth’s 95 care homes meet today’s care standards.
Speaking at a public meeting, Ivor Cawthorn, the borough council’s strategic commissioning manager for adult social care, said more homes for the elderly are desperately needed.

He added that the council has plans to build four new 60-bed properties in the area – even though the market is “stagnant” and rates of occupancy at existing care homes have dropped from up to 95 per cent to between 70 and 80 per cent in under five years.

Mr Cawthorn, who gave a presentation to the council’s planning board, said: “The homes we have – none of them would meet care standards now.”

He also asked councillors to “look favourably” on any applications for care homes that may come before the committee in the future.

Bournemouth currently has 2,200 bed spaces across its properties, although just 52 per cent of these rooms have ensuite bathrooms.

“The market is quite stagnant – we have had no new care homes for an extensive period of time after 2002,” said Mr Cawthorn.

“We have also got a distinct lack of dementia and nursing care in Bournemouth.”

A site in Herbert Avenue has been set aside for a care home for some time, Mr Cawthorn said, although it has been sold three times since a sign announcing a new property was put in place.

Existing care home Draper House in West Howe has also been earmarked as a possible site for redevelopment.

Mr Cawthorn said: “We have the capacity for up for four council-constructed homes of 60 beds.

“There will be a challenge for this board coming forward in terms of trying to decide if homes of this size are appropriate for these locations – the problem we have is, if not there, then where?”