Member Article

Southern Cross to cut 132 of its homes

Southern Cross, the troubled care home provider, is planning to return 132 of its homes to landlords.

The company wants to return 47 homes by the end of September, with the remaining 85 returned by 2016.

Southern Cross currently runs 752 care homes but has been struggling with high rents of about £200m a year.

But the company denied a report that some homes faced closure, saying that no decision had been taken to close any of its homes.

Chairman Christopher Fisher,said: “We recognise that the current situation and continued media speculation will have caused concern to residents in Southern Cross care homes, and their relatives, and we apologise for this.

“Our primary concern in this matter remains the welfare of the residents living in our homes. The financial restructuring will not affect the provision of quality care in any of our homes.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .