Leicester's care homes backed by council report

The report said the financial case for closing the homes 'did not stack up'

Six care homes for the elderly in Leicester, which were facing closure, could be reprieved.

The city council said it wanted to shut three quarters of its homes to cut costs and respond to falling demand.

But elected mayor Sir Peter Soulsby ordered a public consultation to be extended and the plan reviewed.

Now a council commission is recommending the homes not only be kept open but receive investment to bring them up to modern standards.

The council had previously said the homes would become surplus as more elderly people were cared for at home or in sheltered accommodation.

£30m cuts

Now the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Commission has said the previous studies were too concerned with just the fabric of the buildings.

Chairman Paul Westley said: "I think the figures are underestimated by 20% for the growth in the elderly population, especially the over 85s.

"Old people are not just cash registers, they deserve dignity and it is their home, some of them have lived there for a long time and the financial evidence (for closure) does not stack up."

The homes threatened with closure include Arbor House, Elizabeth House, Herrick Lodge, Cooper House, Nuffield House, and Thurn Court in Thurnby Lodge.

The commission's report will be put before Leicester City Council's cabinet at a date to be confirmed, and the cabinet will decide whether to approve the recommendations.

The council is cutting £30m from all services in the current year and £20m in each of the coming two years.