Norfolk council rethinks care home sale and future

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 12:32 · Archive

Norfolk County Council has withdrawn from selling 20 residential care homes to Stow Healthcare, saying the deal was not in residents' interests.

Norfolk County Council has withdrawn from a deal to sell 20 council-owned residential care homes and Norse Care, the council-owned company that runs them, to private provider Stow Healthcare. The sale had been agreed in principle by the former Conservative administration, but Reform leaders decided not to press ahead, saying it was not in the best interests of residents or Norfolk taxpayers.

Three of the homes have already closed: Springdale Care Home in Brundall, Burman House in Terrington St John and Linden Court in Watton. The other 17 remain open. Independent county councillor Alexandra Kemp has called for Burman House to be reopened.

Reform leaders say they are working with senior officers to find a more locally focused solution, though the detail remains unclear. Norse Care's contract to run the homes has been extended twice during negotiations and is likely to be extended again. The council is considering options including selling to another private provider or running the services in house. Reopening the closed homes is described as being 'on the table' but looks unlikely.

How it is being reported

• Call for closed Norfolk residential care homes to reopen as council rethinks closuresReopening closed care homes as part of a rethink over the future of 20 council-owned Norfolk residential homes looks unlikely.Eastern Daily Press · 24 Oct, 12:00
• Call for closed Norfolk residential care homes to reopen as council rethinks closuresReopening closed care homes as part of a rethink over the future of 20 council-owned Norfolk residential homes looks unlikely.Norwich Evening News · 24 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Norfolk County Council · Stow Healthcare · Norse Care · Alexandra Kemp · Norfolk · Brundall · Terrington St John · Watton

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem