Councillors back closure of 'outstanding' Biggleswade care home as part of modernisation programme

The possible closure of Abbotsbury Residential Home at Mead End is part of a programme to modernise and improve facilities for older people locally.

A consultation is underway as Central Bedfordshire Council is in the process of reviewing the future of seven care homes which it inherited from Bedfordshire County Council in 2009.

CBC's preferred option is to relocate residents to better premises either built by the local authority or other providers.

An independent operator is due to open a new care home on London Road in Biggleswade this summer.

The operator, Quantum Care, has offered enough care home places for Abbotsbury residents wanting to move there, in principle, as long as their care and support needs can be met.

This has presented CBC with an opportunity to consider the future of Abbotsbury, according to a letter it sent to the town council about the consultation process.

Biggleswade town councillor Mark Knight said: "We should write in support of option two, but with three requests.

"A review of the future (care home) need should be brought forward to 2023.

"Any extra facility should be located in Biggleswade, rather than the wider Ivel Valley area.

"And CBC should work closely with us to review any future options about how this site (Abbotsbury) is used."

Town councillors voted to support option two of the consultation, favouring the closure proposal with alternative care home provision for permanent residents.

Abbotsbury was built by Bedfordshire County Council in the 1970s on the site of a large former Victorian workhouse.

The care home was given an 'outstanding' rating after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

CBC has been talking to "residents and their representatives to gain an understanding of their needs and preferences" already, explained the letter.

The aim is to "provide residents with a choice of alternative accommodation which meets those wishes and are within a reasonable distance".

The alternative homes suggested "would offer good quality care, modern physical and environmental standards, and fee rates in line with CBC's cost structure".

This only applies to care homes in Central Bedfordshire. The fees are reviewed annually and £601 a week is the current rate.

CBC said: "The running costs for Abbotsbury equate to an estimated £695 per place a week."

Other options include selling Abbotsbury as a 'going concern' to another care home provider or building a new care home on the site after demolishing the building, added the letter.

CBC says a new 72-bed care home would cost about £10.5m.

The remaining choices are to stop new admissions and close Abbotsbury after a set period of time, to revamp the building so that it meets modern standards or do nothing.

Care home operators were identified to provide places for CBC's customers in new homes built by the local authority at three of the seven locations under review.

"A further two premises have agreed options for their futures and await the completion of new-build homes in the local area," said the letter.

The consultation over the future of Abbotsbury runs until Friday, January 29. See here for details.