Public consultation on Suffolk care homes begins
A 12-week public consultation has begun into plans to sell off or close 16 local authority care homes in Suffolk.
It is part of Conservative-controlled Suffolk County Council's strategy to cut its £1.1bn budget by 30%. The council said it wanted to "ensure older people's needs are met with a range of services, including independent sector care homes". The consultation runs until 24 January 2011 and the council's cabinet will consider the responses in March 2011. The council said its homes provide 526 places, which is 9.5% of the registered residential care home places in Suffolk. An online questionnaire can be completed on the Suffolk County Council website and the consultation booklet and form is available at all of the care homes.