Is Norfolk County Council Selling Off Its Lifeline? The Controversial Plan to Privatize Care Homes

The Norfolk County Council is under fire as it moves forward with plans to sell 20 care homes and a council-owned care company to Stow Healthcare, sparking accusations of asset-stripping from local officials. Labour councillor Steve Morphew has branded the proposals a scandal, asserting that the council has poorly managed its care services, thus necessitating this drastic move.

The Conservative council claims that residents currently living in the homes would not be displaced and aims to secure additional investment to revamp the facilities, which have faced modernization challenges amid rising interest rates. Deputy leader Andrew Jamieson reassured that the council will conduct Comprehensive evaluations before finalizing any agreements, although it has yet to negotiate a sale price.

This initiative arose as the council’s contract with Norse Care, a private firm it owns, is expiring. Stow Healthcare, recently acquired by US-based CGEN Care, has emerged as the preferred candidate to take over the homes, including three that have remained closed. Jamieson emphasized his commitment to the transformation and modernization of care homes, promising thorough consultations with residents if the deal progresses.

Critics within the council, particularly Morphew, allege that Norse has suffered from severe mismanagement, leading to diminished performance since 2019. He warned that outsourcing operations could prioritize profit over care quality, effectively removing future options for in-house residential care under potential new local government structures. Liberal Democrat leader Brian Watkins echoed these concerns, highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty faced by care home residents amid the drawn-out decision-making process.

The cabinet is scheduled to deliberate on the proposals soon, with significant implications for the future of care in the region hanging in the balance.