Plans to invest over £173 million in care homes for older people have been approved by Hampshire County Council.

The plans will increase overall bed capacity provided by the council from 900 to 1,000 within a reduced network of 13 care homes.

Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, councillor Liz Fairhurst, said: “Our local authority is one of the very few still running its own care homes. This investment signals our absolute commitment to continuing to do so, but like many councils nationally, facing rising costs and growing demand for public services, we simply cannot continue to provide everything. Now is the time to make some really important choices in how best to target our resources, so that care is provided to local people in the very best way possible, for this and future generations. Looking ahead, our homes will concentrate on specialist care for those with the greatest need – this is care that we are both very good at delivering and can provide at a lower cost than if we source it privately.
 
“We will continue to support those with more general residential care needs by buying more care directly from Hampshire’s independent care providers with whom we already work very closely, as well as supporting many thousands of people with care to help them to continue living independently in their own homes.”

The plans include building three care homes, enlarging and modernising three existing care homes and closing seven ‘older style’ care homes, two of which have been temporarily closed since 2021.

Councillor Fairhurst added: “We are extremely proud of our care homes and of the quality of the care they provide. However, the reality is that some of our buildings are far from ideal with small rooms, limited space for essential equipment and no en suite facilities. This is not the way we want to deliver care in future and why things need to change – so that we can offer people support with the maximum dignity possible.

“I understand the uncertainty that this decision will create for some residents and their families, particularly in those homes that will now be closing. They will be assured of the full support of our expert care teams who have proven experience and expertise in assisting people to move – indeed, they support many hundreds of moves each year as people’s care needs change. Great care will be taken to assist people to make the right, individual choices about their future accommodation.”