Care home gets new lease of life

Minster Care Homes has submitted plans for a modern, 45-bedroom unit at Moat House Nursing Home, Leigh Sinton to Malvern Hills District Council.

When the existing home closed in December 2004 by mutual agreement between Worcestershire County Council's social services department and its then owners Holland Health Care, 25 residents were made homeless and 40 staff left without jobs.

The previous month, the Commission for Social Care Inspection found the home had major shortfalls in meeting residents' needs after an unannounced inspection.

Inspectors were concerned that bedridden people were not being given food and water, communal personal toiletries were being used and there were shortfalls in the storage and administration of medication.

The inspectors said a number of rooms had malodour and debris on the floor, bedrails were incorrectly fitted and fire doors did not close.

After buying the Moat House, Minster Care Homes decided to demolish the building, which already has planning permission to extend from 30 to 40 bedrooms, because it felt it was structurally unsound.

Robert Brain, Minster Care's chief designer, said: "When Minster Care bought the home we went there and had a look and basically just condemned it because it was in such a poor state.

"We want to make a positive contribution to the local community and build a really beautiful home that makes the most of the views of the lake."

It is hoped the home will be built using the latest construction techniques. Modular parts, made by a company called Rollalong, will cut construction time. The roof will also be lowered, to reduce the building's impact on neighbouring properties.

Minster Care Homes is planning to change the home's name, from Moat House Nursing Home to Waterside Care Home, to give it a new start. Fifteen new jobs will be created when it is built.

The company also owns Mowbray Nursing Home in Victoria Road, Malvern, which it plans to redevelop.