Four Seasons Health Care has announced it is to close seven of its care homes in Northern Ireland, which are home to more than 250 residents and employ nearly 400 staff.
The homes are Victoria Park Care Home and Stormont Care Home in Belfast, Antrim Care Home, Garvagh Care Home, Donaghcloney Care Home near Banbridge, Oakridge Care Home in Ballynahinch and Hamilton Court in Armagh.
The UK’s largest care home provider said it is committed to still running care homes in Northern Ireland and will continue to operate its remaining 62 homes. Four Seasons Healthcare currently runs 450 care homes across the UK.
A spokesman for Four Seasons Health Care said, “The principal reason behind this decision is that each of these homes is operating at a loss and they are no longer viable. The fee income that the homes receive is below the cost of the care they are providing and we have effectively been paying a subsidy for them to continue to provide care. We regret that we cannot continue to sustain this position.'
In the wake of the announcement, Health Minister Simon Hamilton for Northern Ireland has revealed that the Northern Ireland Assembly has stopped plans to close 10 statutory run care homes in Northern Ireland.