Care homes are not being built to meet regional demand, with certain locations ‘haemorrhaging’ bed numbers - a report warns.
Findings suggest over the past three years two care homes have closed in England for every one that has opened.
A study by Healthcare Property Consultants (HPC) found that bed numbers had failed to rise despite soaring numbers of elderly people and even greater increases forecast for the future.
While bed numbers are thought to have remained constant – with on average 6,033 beds opening and 5,558 being lost every year – concerns were raised that significant losses in London, the north west and north east had been met by expansion in the south east and west midlands.
Greater London has seen a loss of 1,003 beds at registered facilities, with the north west 308, the north east 307 and Yorkshire and Humber 144.
In contrast, the south east has seen the most significant net gain in beds of 1,284 while the west midlands witnessed a 1,046 climb.
Director of HPC, Nigel Newton Taylor, said: ‘The data clearly identifies new development to be financially driven, rather than reflecting regional demand.
‘Care Quality Commission analysis during the research period identifies the London region as having the highest level of elderly population per registered care home bed. Despite this level of comparative demand, the capital continues to haemorrhage beds.
‘In contrast, the affluent south east enjoys the second highest proportionate bed provision for the elderly and yet development continues apace.’ Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: ‘It is worrying that so many care homes are closing. This can create huge distress if people have to move abruptly from the place they know as home when a care home is shut.’
