Reform council's plan to shut eight care homes a betrayal of local people'

"These closures are nothing short of a betrayal of local people and staff, Coppin said. Derbyshire county council did not stand before the electorate last May pledging to shut care homes. Care home residents, their families and dedicated care workers face huge anxiety about the future just days before Christmas. It's time for the county's leadership to halt these disastrous plans and work with the community to explore alternatives to closure."

"It is deeply concerning to hear about the closure of eight Derbyshire care homes by the Reform-led Derbyshire county council. It will be hugely concerning to residents and their families, while we are making 3.7bn of extra funding available to councils to fund social care."

"Derbyshire county council said it had been in intensive but unsuccessful negotiations with a provider to take over the running of the eight homes as a going concern."

Derbyshire County Council announced the closure of eight residential care homes after a proposed sale fell through days before Christmas. The planned closures threaten vital services and more than 200 jobs and have provoked local backlash and comparisons with similar planned closures in Lancashire. Families, residents and care workers face significant anxiety and distress ahead of the holidays. Parliamentary attention highlighted concern and noted £3.7bn of additional funding available to councils for social care. The council reported intensive but unsuccessful negotiations with a provider to take over the homes as a going concern.

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