Four nursing homes providing essential care for some of Pembrokeshire’s most vulnerable people face closure over a cash row with the county council, the Western Telegraph can exclusively reveal.

Woodfield Care Home in Narberth, Woodland Lodge Care Home in Gumfreston, Pencoed in Wooden and Langton Hall, Scleddau, all face closure.

That would leave families desperately trying to find new accommodation for their relatives – many suffering from dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s – shortly before Christmas.

The Western Telegraph has learned that families of 86 residents have already been told to plan for closure of the homes while awaiting a High Court ruling on the level of fees paid by the county council.

The homes’ owners have started judicial review proceedings over what they claim is the county council’s failure to pay adequate fees to cover costs.

Forest Care Ltd, Mavalon Care Ltd and Woodhill Care Ltd, are seeking an interim order that the county council pay a sum to allow the homes to remain open until a full investigation of the fees is carried out.

That hearing will take place in Cardiff on Tuesday, but residents’ families have been asked to prepare for the worst.

In a letter sent to relatives by director of Woodhill Care Ltd Michael Davies – obtained by the Western Telegraph – Mr Davies said fees had “gradually fallen further and further behind what is needed in order to pay for staff, legal compliance upgrade, repairs and maintenance”.

The fees issue had led to the companies being in breach of contract with their bank and unable to borrow any extra money.

Mr Davies told relatives: “We would be irresponsible as directors not to start planning now for the possibility that one or more of our companies may not be able to meet its obligations in December.

“Sadly, this means making provisional arrangements for residents to be able to move elsewhere if this proves necessary.”

Mr Davies said the directors were working hard to present the court with the evidence needed to make an interim ruling to allow the homes to remain open beyond Christmas.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We can confirm that legal proceedings have commenced against the county council for permission to apply for a judicial review and for interim relief.

“In light of this, the council is unable to comment further at this stage.”

Relatives' absolute horror at closure fears

Sally Rudder, of Broad Haven, described her reaction as one of “absolute horror” after receiving news detailing the potential closure of the homes.

Her mother has dementia and has been at Woodfield Care Home for 18 months.

“It would be disastrous if she had to be moved. The council should be paying the right amount of money to fund these peoples’ care. To start to have to move people with dementia, it’s diabolical.”

Frances Roch’s mother, who also suffers from dementia, has been a resident at Woodfield for six months.

Mrs Roch said: “She is now familiar with the home and can find her way to her room. Her brothers live within a three mile radius of the home and they, myself and my brother are the only people she recognises and their visits to the home are very important to her. As her brothers are all in their eighties and drive only short distances any move would prevent their frequent visits.

“If the home closes and all the residents need to find a specialist care setting there will not be sufficient places available in Pembrokeshire to meet their needs. This would mean that my mother would have to move to an unfamiliar home and her brothers would no longer be able to visit her.

“This would be extremely distressing for my mother and could have a significant impact on her health.”

The Rev Canon Seamus Cunnane is concerned for the future welfare of his sister Una Sweeney who has been at Woodfield for 11 years.

He said: “The council must put the needs of the residents of these homes as their number one priority as, if the homes closed and they were forced to find a new home, this would be both distressing and harmful to their health.”