All Warwickshire council care homes for elderly facing axe

All 10 Warwickshire County Council-run care homes for the elderly face the axe from cuts – despite widespread public opposition.



The council’s Conservative cabinet will next week discuss pressing ahead with a radical shake-up of elderly care.

It follows a public consultation which showed people are overwhelmingly against closing the council’s care homes over the next four years.

Adult services bosses say it could save £4million a year, while services could be improved with alternative schemes such as independently run “extra care housing” – providing flats with 24-hour care on hand.

But some relatives of frail and vulnerable people fear moving home could have a devastating impact on their lives.

Abbotsbury in Rugby, and Mayfield in Bedworth, have been identified as the first two to close. Other homes are in Coleshill, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Warwick, Leamington, Shipston, Stratford and Studley.

Council bosses saying demand has been hit by more people living at home longer.

County council leaders say care home closures could contribute to unprecedented £60m budget cuts of cuts over four years, following massive government funding cuts.

Some care homes could be spared the axe if private firms or social enterprises – independent arms-length companies – are willing to step in and run them.