Hampshire care homes set to close despite families' concerns

Bishops Waltham House offers residential, respite and reablement care to 36 older people

Seven care homes for the elderly are set to shut, despite fears the closures will be "very difficult" for residents.

The homes have been earmarked for closure by Hampshire County Council, which wants to invest more money in specialist nursing accommodation.

Families fighting against the proposals said they "haven't been listened to" during a public consultation.

The council said the buildings were outdated and the new plans would provide an extra 100 beds.

It wants to spend £173m on refurbished and new accommodation, short-term support and complex dementia care, which it hopes would prevent hospital admissions.

The council said a working party had assessed the seven homes and found cramped conditions and small bedrooms without bathroom facilities.

Under the plans, Bishops Waltham House, Solent Mead in Lymington, Green Meadows in Waterlooville, as well as Westholme in Winchester and Malmsbury Lawn in Havant, would close.

Two care homes which have been temporarily closed since 2021 - Copper Beaches in Andover and Cranleigh Paddock in Lyndhurst - would not reopen.

Emsworth House in Emsworth, Oakridge House in Basingstoke and Ticehurst in Aldershot would be modernised and expanded to change the type of care provided.

The overall number of beds available would increase from 900 to 1,000.

More than 700 responses were received during a public consultation, most opposing the closures.

'Urgent crisis'

Amber Hudson, who is campaigning to save Bishops Waltham House where her 102-year-old grandmother lives, said the consultation had been a "tick box exercise" and upgrading the homes was possible with existing funds.

She said: "We don't want the stress of moving her but it's not just about my family.

"For many people who don't get visitors, the staff are their family. It's really distressing to think this could happen to these elderly people"

"They asked us for our views in the consultation, hundreds said they didn't want this but the recommendation is for the closure to go ahead. We feel we haven't been listened to."

Trade union Unison said the closures would be "very difficult" for residents, families and staff, but welcomed the investment in specialist services.

"The urgent crisis in the social care sector will only be fixed with a nationally coordinated, long-term plan under a National Care Service," it added.

The working party recommended accepting the proposals which are due to be formally agreed by the council in February.

The council said: "We want to be able to offer local people the very best care accommodation in facilities that are modern and comfortable, providing the highest levels of personal dignity at all times."

It said it could provide nursing care cheaper than external providers but buying beds in private homes was cheaper for traditional older people's care.

"Expert dedicated social care support" would be available to help residents find alternative accommodation close to the existing homes, it added.

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