CLOSING council-run care homes for the elderly in Hampshire could be costing lives, claim campaigners after conducting research into three previous closures.

Homes were shut in Kings Worthy, Gosport and Fleet in 2012, and Cherry Orchard, in Andover, in 2011.

The county council has confirmed that 32 of 77 elderly residents have since died — a mortality rate of 42 per cent, compared to a usual death rate in care homes of 18 per cent across the UK.

Eight passed away after news of threatened closures, and 24 after being moved.

The figures were uncovered by campaigners fighting to save four residential homes threatened with the axe — Nightingale Lodge in Romsey, and others in Lyndhurst, Basingstoke and Petersfield.

If the council goes ahead with the plans, 121 long-term residents would have to move and 193 jobs would be shed.

The Conservative-run council says it would cost more than £10m to modernise the homes, and have put forward plans to turn three into extra care housing schemes of individual flats with support services run by housing associations.

In a statement, the local authority said it was “unable to conclude” being moved was to blame.

But Andover councillor, Tony Hooke, the deputy leader of the UKIP group on the council, described the mortality rate as “shocking and depressing”.

He said: “These are elderly, frail and vulnerable people who are not able to defend themselves. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind there is a correlation between moving these elderly people and their premature death.”

Cllr Hooke said he would investigate if the closures breached their right to life under the European Court of Human Rights.

Relatives and public service union, Unison, warned the trauma of moving could have put lives at risk when Cornerways closed last year. Tim Cutter, branch secretary for Unison Hampshire, said: “The statistics are in line with what we have heard nationally.

“A higher percentage of vulnerable elderly people die within the first year of care homes closing,” he said.

The council said residents were not moved until suitable alternative accommodation was found.

Some families had told the council their elderly relatives were happier in their new care homes.

Anna McNair Scott, executive member for adult services, said: “Figures of this kind can give no indication of underlying medication conditions that would have affected the outcomes for individuals.”

“The comfort, security and wellbeing of those in our care is our main priority and we take our responsibilities to preserve these very seriously.”