Nine staff lose jobs at Sway nursing home Sway: Nine staff have lost their jobs after Hampshire nursing home received a zero rating from independent inspectors. The 70-bed Birchy Hill home in Sway is owned by Angel PLC, which has brought in a new management team. It follows a highly critical report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which said patients with mental health problems were in the hands of inadequately trained and poorly supervised staff. Subscribe     #400 / 31-12-09

The Park Group comes up smelling of roses London: The freehold of three East Midlands care homes has been sold by Grant Thornton. The portfolio comprises the purpose-built, 54-bed Autumn Grange near Worksop, the 40-bed Park Lodge Care Home in Chesterfield, and the purpose-built, 50-bed Park Side home in Mansfield. The care homes were previously operated by The Park Group. The full story in UK Over 50s Housing Weekly News / Mon 4 January 2010 / Subscribe     #399 / 31-12-09

Romac urges Supporta to re-think Mears offer London: Romac Investments has urged the board of the domiciliary care provider Supporta to consider a cash offer for the company that is higher than the recommended all-share offer made by Mears last week. The investment company, which is a 28.2 per cent shareholder in Supporta through its wholly owned subsidiary Ginkgo Investment, said it was "very surprised" that the Mears offer had been recommended by Supporta's board.     #398 / 31-12-09

Bolton care homes sale could net £150 million Bolton: A Bolton-based business which provides specialist care and education services to children looks set to change hands for up to £150m in a deal which could net up to £20m. HG Capital and Canadian pension fund Ontario Teachers are both expected to submit bids for Acorn Care and Education to investment bank NM Rothschild, which is handling the auction on behalf of its owners, Phoenix Equity Partners. Mon 4 January 2010 / Subscribe     #397 / 31-12-09

Vandals target shuttered Stoke nursing homes Stoke: Residents are demanding answers on the future of five empty care homes which they say are targets for vandals. The homes were closed by Stoke-on-Trent Council last year as part of its modernisation of older people's services. Austin House, in Abbey Hulton, Mary Bourne Home, in Bucknall, Edith Beddow House, in Hanford, Parkside Home, in Weston Coyney and Hilton House, in Hartshill, now stand empty. Mon 4 January 2010 / Subscribe     #396 / 31-12-09

Cafe steps in after care home shuts kitchen Wolverhampton: A Wolverhampton city centre cafe owner has offered to provide pensioners at a doomed care home with a cooked breakfast every morning following the news that its kitchen would shut a fortnight before residents are moved out. Vicky Beswick, owner of Il Cappuccino, says she will deliver the meals to Underhill House, in Bushbury, if the city council agrees. The full story in UK Over 50s Housing Weekly News / Subscribe     #395 / 31-12-09

High court bars council from removing wardens London: A high court judge this week stopped a council from removing 24-hour live-in wardens from sheltered housing in a blow to the Conservative authority's attempt to remodel itself as "easyCouncil" after the no-frills budget airline easyJet. The judicial review of Barnet council's cost-cutting decision followed a campaign by elderly residents of sheltered housing in the north London borough. Mon 21 December 2009 / Subscribe     #394 / 17-12-09

Palliative care unit still not open 6 months on Spalding: A palliative care unit that could be offering vital care to patients across South Holland is not open because there is no staff to man it. The four-bed unit should have opened with the rest of Spalding's Johnson Community Hospital back in June, but six months on the fully-furnished unit remains empty. Currently there are about 25 people in Lincolnshire waiting for palliative care beds. Mon 30 November 2009 / Subscribe     #393 / 24-11-09

£130 million pledged for telecare and home help London: The Government has pledged to invest £130m in initiatives such as telecare and home adaptations as part of its free personal care measures outlined in the Queen's Speech. The Government said its Personal Care at Home Bill would help 130,000 people needing home care for the first time to regain their independence. The full story in UK Over 50s Housing Weekly News / Mon 30 November 2009 / Subscribe     #392 / 24-11-09

PM to freeze private companies out of NHS London: Gordon Brown is facing a damaging rift with his party after slowing the pace of reform in the NHS. Private companies and charities are being frozen out of the NHS, prompting accusations that the Government has bowed to pressure from the unions. Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, is facing a Cabinet backlash. The full story in UK Over 50s Housing Weekly News / Mon 30 November 2009 / Subscribe     #391 / 24-11-09

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