A PROPOSAL which could lead to the closure of a Forest care home was due to be discussed by senior councillors today (Wednesday).

Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet were expected to approve a six-week consultation on the future of four care homes, which are run by the Order of St John, including Westbury Court at Westbury.

Council leaders say the proposals will help shape the future of the county’s independent health and social care market, making sure it can meet the changing and more complex needs of residents.

Council leader Mark Hawthorne (Con, Quedgeley), said: “These proposals reflect the outcome of the market engagement we carried out last year and the changing needs and preferences of Gloucestershire residents.

“I understand closing homes will cause concern to residents living in them and their families.

“There will of course always be a need for residential care for those who need long term care and the changes that are being proposed will help ensure they receive this in modern facilities that have en-suite bathrooms and is flexible enough to adapt as needs of an individual change and develop.”

If the consultation is approved, a final decision on the future of Westbury Court, along with Orchard House in Bishop Cleeve, Bohanam House in Gloucester and The Elms in Stonehouse, will be made at the June meeting of the Cabinet.

The council says if the closures go ahead, residents will be “fully supported” in finding the most appropriate ways of meeting their needs.

Demand for standard residential care home places has been falling consistently for the past five years and more people are wanting to be cared for at home.

The county council’s approach has the backing of local NHS leaders who also have strong desire to support people to remain well and independent for as long as possible.

The Cabinet, will also be asked to agree a new approach to using advances in technology to support caring for people at home.

In the survey carried out by the council, 99 per cent of respondants said it was ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’ to be supported by community-based care so they could stay in their own home for longer.

The survey also found that 86 per cent of care home businesses had been hit by the Covid pandemic with 70 per saying loss of income had had a moderate to high impact.

Providers also said that recruiting and retaining staff was a problem and that costs related to staff and personal protective equipment contin ued to increase.

There is often a requirement for extra space, equipment and training linked to the individual care and support in order to meet more complex needs.

Providers felt that the impact of the pandemic going forward is likely to exacerbate these costs.

The loss of resident income from both private and public funded sources has also hit their financial stability.