PM labels care home closures 'deeply concerning'

The prime minister has described the planned closure of several care homes in Derbyshire as "deeply concerning".

The Reform UK-led Derbyshire County Council announced this week that talks to sell the properties to a provider had collapsed.

The authority apologised to residents of the homes and their families for the "deeply upsetting" news and said it would support them to find new homes.

It is understood there will be no immediate impact on services but the council will work to find private placements for residents as soon as possible.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke in the House of Commons on Wednesday after the issue was raised by Amber Valley Labour MP Linsey Farnsworth.

Farnsworth told MPs: "Just days before Christmas, heartbroken Derbyshire families and staff have learned that the Reform-led council are closing eight care homes, including Rowthorne in Amber Valley."

Farnsworth also urged the council to rethink the decision.

In response, Starmer said: "It is deeply concerning to hear about the closure of eight Derbyshire care homes.

"It would be hugely concerning residents and their families - while we're making £3.7bn of extra funding available for councils to fund social care."

Other MPs in the region have joined Farnsworth in urging the council to reconsider the decision.

Mid-Derbyshire Labour MP Jonathan Davies, whose constituency includes the Briar Close House home in Borrowash, said he was "incredibly disappointed and concerned" by the news.

"This is the worst possible outcome for its residents and staff," he added.

"Any move that results in residents being evicted, and important jobs lost right before Christmas, is awful."

Derbyshire leaders have said commercial sensitivities prevent them from discussing the details of the negotiations with the provider.

However, it is understood the provider considered the deal no longer financially viable, something that is considered to be a factor in other potential alternative providers not currently being explored by the council.

The council had agreed to sell the homes in November 2024 under the previous Conservative administration.

The homes up for sale were:

• Briar Close, Borrowash
• Castle Court, Swadlincote
• The Grange, Eckington
• Lacemaker Court, Long Eaton
• The Leys, Ashbourne
• New Bassett House, Shirebrook
• Rowthorne, Swanwick
• Thomas Colledge, Bolsover

The council's cabinet member for adult care, Joss Barnes, said the decision to close the homes was "entirely outside the council's control and that no further scope for negotiation existed".

Barnes added: "The current situation remains fluid, with several options under active consideration.

"However, our immediate priority must be the wellbeing of residents. Remarketing the homes for a further 12 to 18 months would create ongoing uncertainty and instability for residents, families, and staff, without any guarantee that a different outcome could be achieved.

"This must also be considered alongside the continued costs of maintaining the buildings and staffing, and the council's adult social care transformation programme, which is focused on specialist dementia care provision rather than the residential care market these homes currently serve."

Residents and their families are still in the process of being contacted by the council about the next steps.

Leaders say they are "confident" new private provider placements can be found and that commitments not to load the extra costs of private placements on to residents will be kept.

Another of the county council's care homes, Ada Belfield in Belper, is currently being marketed as a going concern. The council says it will not be impacted.

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