HC-One has announced the closure of three embargoed care homes in Cambridgeshire.

The Cambridge in Chesterton, The Gables in Whittlesey and The Red House in Ramsey were placed under an admissions embargo in July 2022 by Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, following quality concerns.

Cambridgeshire County Council announced it was cancelling its £64 million block contract with HC-One in November 2022 citing the “poor performance” of The Elms which was rated Inadequate by the CQC shortly after news of its closure in October last year.

The local authority revealed it was extending its embargo on HC-One’s three remaining homes during inquests into the deaths of former residents at The Elms in April.

In their statement yesterday, HC-One, Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough acknowledged improvements had been made at the three care homes but they had “been unable to reach an agreement on the improvements and on lifting the embargo, and restarting admissions into these homes”.

As a result, HC-One said it had decided that the homes were “no longer operationally and financially viable”.

The statement added: “This is a disappointing decision for everyone involved and we recognise the impact this will have on residents, families and staff at these homes. HC-One, Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough will work together with residents, their families and staff through the closure process, and to find new care placements sensitively and safely. The homes will not close until all residents have moved to their new care placements.”