The public are being urged to have their say on Hampshire County Council proposals to transform and expand the future of nursing and specialist care accommodation directly provided by the Local Authority for the county’s growing older population.

The public consultation which closes on 12 November 2023, is published on the County Council’s website and comprises an information pack and response form. 

The pack and form are available in a range of alternative formats, including other languages, as well as ‘Easy Read’, large print, audio or Braille. Anyone who may require this, is asked to email the County Council at: AS.Consultation@hants.gov.uk, or call: 0370 779 8102.

The proposals put forward by the County Council’s adult social care service recommend concentrating on the delivery of specialist nursing care. Complex dementia care and short-term support – to either prevent a hospital admission or support a hospital discharge. This would not only meet the needs of a growing number of older people in Hampshire in the longer term. But would be care that could be provided more cost effectively by the Local Authority.

Specifically, the proposals include:

  • Building three brand new nursing homes – Oak Park in Havant, Cornerways in Winchester, and a site in the New Forest (location to be determined)
  • Significantly modernising and expanding care at three existing County Council homes – Oakridge in Basingstoke, Ticehurst in Aldershot and Emsworth in Havant.

Withdrawing, over time, from the direct provision of residential care, with:

  • the permanent closure of two residential care homes, temporarily closed since 2021 – Copper Beeches in Andover and Cranleigh Paddock in Lyndhurst
  • the closure of three existing residential care homes at Bishops Waltham House, Solent Mead in Lymington, and Green Meadows in Waterlooville
  • the closure of two further homes in the longer term (not before the end of 2026) – Westholme in Winchester and Malmesbury Lawn in Havant, with the services seamlessly moving to the new local facilities at Cornerways and Oak Park at the point that they are operational
  • the ending of residential care services at Oakridge, Ticehurst and Emsworth (not before the Autumn 2025 at the earliest).

There are no proposals relating to the County Council’s seven other nursing and short term ‘step-down from hospital’ care homes.

Any changes would be phased over time and would help to increase the overall number of directly provided Local Authority beds. To around 1,000 from the current position of just over 900 beds.

The consultation is ensuring the views of people currently being cared for in the Local Authority’s care homes, their families and staff. Plus an extensive range of organisations and the wider public are sought.

The findings from the formal public consultation process will be considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee in January 2024. Prior to the Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health taking any formal decisions. On the specific proposals, no earlier than February 2024.