Woman, 106, loses care home fight

Louisa Watts, pictured with son Derek, has lived in the home for four years

The family of a 106-year-old woman has lost its campaign to keep her in a Wolverhampton care home, which the council wanted to close to save money.

Louisa Watts's family had been fighting to keep Underhill House open and took out an injunction against Wolverhampton City Council to prevent its closure.

She moved into the home four years ago and previously said she was happy there and would be very upset to leave.

The injunction was overturned earlier by the Court of Appeal.

'No harm'

The council said work would resume immediately to close the home and it was working with the remaining nine residents to help them make alternative arrangements.

Mrs Watts's son Derek said he was "angry" and "disappointed".

If there were any firm findings that moving Mrs Watts would shorten her life the decision would be quite different. Lord Justice Sedley

When his mother first moved in she socialised with other residents and went to bingo and fish and chip suppers, but had increasingly become more infirm and deaf, he said.

In passing judgement Lord Justice Sedley said provided the move from Bushbury, Wolverhampton, was properly managed it should "not do her any appreciable harm."

He added: "If there were any firm findings that moving Mrs Watts would shorten her life the decision would be quite different."

He told the family's solicitor Yvonne Hossack there were no grounds for an appeal, although he recognised that Mrs Watts was "entitled to the full benefit of every day that still remains to her."

'Doing well'

Mrs Watts, a retired hospital cleaner and widow, moved to the home when her daughter Jean Bolas died aged 78.

The council took the decision in April to close the 40-year-old home, which it said required £2m investment to help it meet current care standards.

It said the uncertainty caused by the legal action had been "unsettling" for residents and staff and it hoped the Court Of Appeal's decision would help everyone move forward.

Sarah Norman, Wolverhampton City Council's director for adults and community said: "We have already helped nine residents to move out of Underhill House and they are doing well in their new accommodation."