Suffolk County Council to announce new care home provider

A new care home provider for Suffolk will be announced later this month.

Suffolk County Council will decide who will take over its 16 care homes and eight wellbeing centres at a cabinet meeting on 17 April.

The council said it had a shortlist of three candidates. Staff currently employed by the council will transfer to the new provider.

Councillor Colin Noble said the change would "bring the necessary investment and additional expertise" to Suffolk.

The council said 23 expressions of interest had been received since May last year.

Bidders were asked to prove they were financially sound and capable of providing enough specialist places for people with "dementia and complex care needs".

Mr Noble, portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: "We anticipated that by 2030 the number of older people and those suffering with dementia in the county will double.

"We must make sure that for those needing the most intense care they get a high quality service in fit for purpose facilities."