Decision not to reopen care home angers campaigners

Campaigners said Benjamin Court - which bridged the journey from hospital to home - was badly needed

Health bosses have decided against reopening a care home for people leaving hospital, a decision campaigners have described as a "kick in the teeth".

The Benjamin Court reablement unit, in Cromer - which gave short-term care for people well enough to be discharged from hospital, but who still needed support to go home - closed in June 2023, having been run by the NHS until 2017 and then by Norfolk County Council.

In a recent survey of nearly 300 people, the watchdog Healthwatch found 79% wanted it to be used again for convalescence.

But the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it could not find a way to make that work and would "return the site to NHS Property Services".

"It feels like the NHS has washed their hands of it, like they’re finally shutting the door," said Martin Booth, of the campaign group Save Benjamin Court.

"Our biggest fear is that the NHS will now sell the site," he added.

Mr Booth said: "This decision by the ICB is a kick in the teeth for the people of north Norfolk, and flies directly in the face of the findings of the Healthwatch survey, which they themselves commissioned.

"It is madness to go ahead with closing down Benjamin Court as a centre to support those leaving hospital, at a time when hospitals are constantly struggling to discharge patients into safe care."

Around 1,000 people signed a petition in 2023, when Benjamin Court was closed

The home had beds for people aged over 65, and with dementia, who had left hospital but were not ready to go home.

After it closed in 2023, 1,000 people signed an online petition calling for it to reopen.

In 2024, Healthwatch Norfolk was asked to gather views about the future of the building.

Healthwatch said the "most popular suggestion" was to reinstate Benjamin Court as a reablement or rehabilitation centre, while 21% of people suggested other health uses, such as respite care or specialist clinics.

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of the Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: "We wanted to find a solution that would mean the building could continue to be used to support the health and wellbeing of north Norfolk residents.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a solution that fits with the other services already available and the model of care we want to provide, or which is financially viable.

"As a result, we will return the site to NHS Property Services, which will enable them to look for alternative tenants."

Steffan Aquarone, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, said he was "disappointed" but "not surprised" at the decision.

"I know there'll be many people out there today feeling like they've been ignored or pushed aside," he said.