HAMPSHIRE County Council (HCC) is calling on the public to have its say on proposals to change the future of nursing and specialist care accommodation.

The proposals, which have been put forward by the 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.

The council claims that this would 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.

READ MORE: Hampshire County Council proposes closure of seven care homes in £173m plan

The proposals include building three new nursing homes in the county, including at Cornerways in Winchester, as well as expanding and modernising care at three further homes.

The council is also proposing the closure of three existing residential care homes, including Bishops Waltham House, and the closure of a further two homes in the longer term, including Westholme in Winchester, with the services moving to the new local facilities.

There are no proposals relating to HCC’s seven other nursing and short-term “step-down from hospital” care homes.

The council says that 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 around 900 beds.

The consultation will ensure that 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.

SEE ALSO: Letter: Care home plan 'a case of putting money before people'

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.

The public consultation, which runs until November 12, is published on the council’s website. It 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.