Two Liverpool care homes were facing closure after the private operator said they were no longer viable – but now another company has stepped in to save them. Tony McDonough reports

A new operator is to take control of two Liverpool care homes which were due to close.

In summer 2020, private operator Shaw Healthcare told Liverpool City Council that they could no longer run Brushwood care home in Speke and Millvina care home in Everton viably due to low bed occupancy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September, an interim agreement was reached which meant that Shaw Healthcare would be able to keep the two homes open until the spring, while talks took place to find another operator.

Now the council says another private firm, Bloomcare, will take over the running of both homes and they will now remain open. Southport-based Bloomcare already operates a number of facilities in Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

Existing staff will transfer to the company on their current terms and conditions, and existing residents will have their care protected with no top-up fees. A virtual introduction meeting for relatives of residents will take place next week.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Cllr Paul Brant, said: “We listened to the concerns of relatives and acted on it, so I am delighted that we have had success in being able to find a new organisation to take on these valued facilities in Everton and Speke.

“It is also welcome news that they continue to operate in the guise that they were specifically built for – providing quality care for some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Acting Mayor Wendy Simon, added: “We have been working hard behind the scenes over the last few months to identify a new operator committed to the long term future of both sites and we are delighted to have reached an agreement with Bloomcare.”