The company that runs two care homes in Brighton and Hove effectively declared itself bust today (Monday 11 July).
Southern Cross made the announcement to the London Stock Exchange this morning and said that the landlords of its 752 homes would take over running them.
The company operates Bon Accord in New Church Road, Hove, and The Downs in Laburnum Avenue, Hangleton.
The landlord of Bon Accord is Gama Tzedaka Ltd, of Hendon, and Yew Tree Properties Ltd, of Golders Green in London, according to the GMB union, which represents several Southern Cross staff.
It said that the directors of Gama Tzedaka were David Jay, Irvine Sidney Jay and Philip Jay.
Neither Southern Cross nor the GMB identified the landlord of The Downs.
Reassurance
While some Southern Cross homes are to close, Brighton and Hove City Council sought to offer reassurance about the two homes in Hove.
The council has asked the managers to put the minds of their staff at rest – and those of residents and their families, carers and friends.
Councillor Rob Jarrett, chairman of the Joint Commissioning Board, which brings the council and health chiefs together, gave members an update at a meeting at Hove Town Hall late this afternoon.
He said that Southern Cross was shutting down its operations and transferring responsibility for its home to the company’s landlords.
He said that this did not mean that homes would necessarily close and added that some of those landlords owned and ran other care homes.
Denise D’Souza, the council’s director of adult social services, told members of the Joint Commissioning Board that the two Hove homes appeared to be financially viable.
She said that the council would work with the landlords or the administrators appointed to run Southern Cross until it was wound up.
She added: “We have reassured the residents. They have been reassured by the staff in those homes.
“We’re in a much safer position than some other local authorities.”
Local difficulties
A month ago the council was funding 27 residents at Bon Accord, 18 at The Downs and seven places at Southern Cross homes outside Brighton and Hove.
