Care providers in North Wales say they are being forced out of business by “irresponsibly and unlawfully low” fees.

The warning from around care providers came during an emergency meeting with Conwy Council.

Clive Nadin, owner of the 29-bed Abbey Dale House Care Home in Colwyn Bay and leading member of sector champions Care Forum Wales, said: “There are a lot of care homes out there who are on the brink of financial meltdown.

“All you need is for something to go wrong, whether it’s a leaking roof or equipment failure, and it would be enough to push them over the edge.

“Unless there is a fundamental change of approach which involves paying realistic fees these important community assets are not going to survive.”

Nadin said the council had allowed for only a 10.1% increase in insurance premiums when they had grown by 40-100%.

Similarly, he said the council’s proposal of a 10.% rise for gas and electricity was woefully below the actual hike of 52.2%.

The warning followed news of the closure of four care homes in North Wales representing 163 beds ­- Trewythen Hall in Gresford, Bay Court in Kinmel Bay, Gwastad Hall in Cefn y Bedd and Morfa Newydd in Greenfield.

Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales, said there was a “gaping North-South divide” in care home fees in Wales with, for example, Torfaen in South Wales paying this year £107 a week more per person for residential dementia care than Conwy is planning to pay next year for exactly the same level of service.

Kreft said that represented a difference of £224,000 this year for an average 40-bed care home.

Cllr Penny Andow, cabinet member for integrated adult and community services, said: “Conwy County Borough Council works in partnership with care home providers to ensure that our care home fees are both fair and affordable, and to ensure we can inform further increases for 2023/24. We are acutely aware that social care is underfunded and as such have been working with other local authorities across Wales to address this with Welsh government.”

The council said a range of options had been presented over and above that of the North Wales Care Fees Group and will be determined on 2 March.