A Durham care home is to close with residents and staff said to be "stunned" at the news.
Hallgarth Care Home in the city of Durham will close in August. When this was announced there were around 30 residents living there, but the operator Four Seasons Health Care says all but seven have already moved out into alternative accommodation.
The GMB union attacked the decision and said it was a "cold-blooded decision" which had left vulnerable people "scrabbling around for somewhere to live". But the FSHC said this had been a "very difficult decision" and that the wellbeing of residents "has been our priority ever since the home opened".
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The union urged Durham County Council to take over the home - but the council said that as neither landlord nor leaseholder at the home it would be inappropriate to comment.
In a statement, a FSHC spokesperson said: "“Four Seasons Health Care has made the difficult decision to close Hallgarth Care Home in Durham. The wellbeing of our residents has been our priority ever since the home opened and will remain our priority until we close in August.
"We are working closely with Durham County Council’s Social Services team and family members to ensure suitable alternative care arrangements are made for the seven residents remaining in the home. We would like to thank all members of our hard working team for caring for the residents at the home and we have made alternative positions available to affected members of staff.”
GMB organiser Etain Stobbart said: “Vulnerable older people and their families are desperately scrabbling around for somewhere to live, while workers have no idea how they are going to keep food on the table and a roof over their families’ heads."
Durham County Council's Neil Jarvis said the council was sorry to hear of the closure and appreciated this would be upsetting to many. He said: "We're working with the current care provider, residents, and families to explore alternative care options and are providing ongoing support to residents and staff.
"As of 30 June, the majority of residents have already chosen and moved to other care services, with only seven residents remaining in the home. We have available care home capacity through our established contracts and the remaining residents all have plans in place to move to alternative homes in the coming weeks. Our Care Academy will also be supporting affected staff who wish to seek employment elsewhere in the sector."
