Upset and confusion over care home closure plans

Supporters of a care home that has been earmarked for closure by a local authority say the proposals make no sense and are affecting the wellbeing of residents.

Described in a petition to save it as an "integral part of the community", Henry Cornish Care Centre in Chipping Norton has been identified for potential closure after a review into Oxfordshire's future care needs.

The county council said more money was needed to support "higher-level care provision, including beds for residents living with dementia".

But staff who work at the centre said the home is "pretty much full" and moving the residents risks "making them ill".

James Beadle set up the petition to save the care home, which has been signed by more than 1,800 people.

Beadle, who has friends and family working at Henry Cornish, said: "It's a home from home. They've got everything there, they do activities throughout the day, it's just a fantastic facility."

He said the closure is more confusing as it was built by Oxfordshire County Council, to replace another home, just 15 years ago.

"Now they're saying the layout of the building is not fit for purpose. That just makes no sense. They purposely built this building for a care facility," he added.

According to staff who work at Henry Cornish, the main care home has about 80% occupancy levels with the Care Quality Commission rating it as "good."

While the council owns the building, the care is provided by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) that supports residents placed by the local authority as well people who self-fund their care.

But the provision of 14 nursing beds, which cost the council £460,000 each year, has led the authority "to consider whether this is the best use of public money".

The beds were previously paid for by the NHS to support people with higher levels of need, including those recently discharged from hospital.

According to the local authority, these beds are now their financial responsibility and are being used for under a third of the time.

The council says the proposal to close the centre "is not a money-saving exercise" as the funding would remain within the adult social care budget and "be redirected to support higher-level care provision".

Staff from Henry Cornish Care Centre said residents with dementia are already supported at the home and moving them away would be "disruptive and impact their mental health".

The BBC spoke to five carers, all of whom have asked to remain anonymous.

One said they understood the sense of removing the nursing beds but saw no reason to close the "happy and loving" care home.

Another, who has worked at the centre for four years, said: "It's a lovely home, it tears my heart to know that it's closing and it tears my heart to know the residents will be moving on to new homes and they're very upset.

"I'm worried they're going to become ill for that reason."

The local authority has launched a consultation about the plans to close Henry Cornish Care Centre, as well as Townsend House care home in Oxford, "to ensure that the care we provide is financially sustainable for the council, so that we can continue to meet residents' needs over the longer term".

The council is expected to make a final decision at a cabinet meeting in December.