Care homes for rich in private sector, warning

The fear comes as the county council discusses selling or part-selling the homes it runs - including The Lawns in Whitnash and Park View in Warwick - in efforts to make savings of £25 million in its adult social care services.

Officials, who have also put forward the idea of increasing charges of care home places for those who can afford to pay, want to extend the consultation on whether the homes should be closed until December 14.

But Whitnash resident Lesley Capehorn, whose 88-year-old mother-in-law lives at The Lawns, is worried that the less wealthy will lose out.

She said: “What is to stop the private sector from doubling their charges?

“The amount of elderly people is soon going to double, but most of those people will not be able to pay for care. The care homes will be full of rich people.”

County councillor Bernard Kirton (Ind, Whitnash) agreed. He said: “The county council needs to be reminded that care homes belong to the people of Warwickshire. It seems to want to ditch its responsibility as soon as it can, while the private sector is hanging about in the wings. I am very disturbed.”

County councillor Izzi Seccombe (Con, Stour and the Vale), responsible for adult social care, said: “Whatever the provision and whoever is should be provided from, the quality of care must come first.

“But we have got to make £25 million of savings over the next four years. There are no easy decisions and we have to look at every possibility.”