Appeal into future of care home

The future of a private care home in Northamptonshire which is threatened with closure by a health watchdog, is being decided by a tribunal.

A Care Standards Tribunal will rule whether Active Care Partnership's Alton Centre care home, in Knuston Spinney, should close.

The Commission for Social Care Inspections (CSCI) has called for the closure after an inspection in August.

At present it is being run by the county council and primary care trust.

The appeal by Active Care Partnership Ltd against the planned closure at the Care Standards Tribunal is expected to finish on Friday.

'Risk to life'

A CSCI spokesman said fears were raised regarding certain areas, including the sudden death of a resident on 15 July.

CSCI inspected the home on 6 August to examine concerns about nutrition and hydration, wound care and the management of medication and medical conditions.

The spokesman confirmed a second patient died at the Alton Centre on the same night inspectors had visited.

Inspectors considered if there was a serious risk to the life, health and well-being of the residents and sought a court order from magistrates to cancel the home's registration the next day.

Active Care Partnership - a subsidiary of the Southern Cross Healthcare Group - applied to the High Court to overturn the order, but it was refused on 14 August.

The court ordered the responsibility for care of the 28 residents to be handed over to the local Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Northamptonshire County Council until the outcome of this week's appeal hearing.

Appeal hearing

A team of nurses and carers was sent in to work with and supervise the home's own staff in caring for the residents, who have physical disabilities and need nursing care.

A spokesman for the Care Standards Tribunal said it was hoped the hearing would finish on Friday but it was unknown when a decision would be made.

A spokeswoman for the Southern Cross Healthcare Group said the firm did not want to comment while the appeal hearing was taking place.

Earlier the firm had said that there had been an interim agreement that the council should run the home.