Home closes as legionella found

A care home has closed after high levels of legionella bacteria were found in its water system.

Staffordshire County Council said The Laurels, home to 10 residents in Stafford, closed with immediate effect once the bacteria was found.

It emphasised it was a preventative measure and no-one had been taken ill.

The Laurels was due to shut in the New Year as part of the council's recent decision to close 14 of its 21 care homes.

New homes

The authority said all residents were being helped to find new homes of their choice. The Laurels was also used by 18 other people and had 23 staff.

Eric Robinson, director of social care and health, said the decision was taken to close the home in the best interests of all involved.

"Expert advice was that the water system needed considerable repairs, which would have meant closing the building for at least a month at a probable cost of £70,000 to £90,000.

"As the home was scheduled to shut sometime in the New Year it was decided that immediate closure was the only sensible course of action."

Legionella bacteria can cause the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease