Unison criticises Hampshire care home closures

A trade union has criticised plans to close three council-run Hampshire care homes and move "physically frail" residents into private care.

The county council said the homes in Gosport, Winchester and Fleet were not suitable to accommodate Hampshire's growing ageing population.

But Unison said the council's plans were "privatisation by the back door".

Addenbrooke in Gosport, Cornerways in Winchester and Thurlston House in Fleet have been earmarked for closure.

In response to Unison's privatisation allegation a council spokeswoman said the council had "provisionally reserved places in independent and council-run care homes so it can be presented as an option in case a home is to close".

The public service union and Hampshire Alliance to Protect Public Services (Happs) have organised three public meetings against the closure plans.

Unison branch secretary Tim Cutter said: "A result of these closures will mean residents, many in their 80s and 90s and physically frail, will have to move from a place they originally chose to live in".

Public consultation ends on 20 August with a decision due on 21 September.