Two centres providing vital care for people who would otherwise be blocking hospital beds could be set to close - putting dozens of jobs at risk.
Norfolk County Council is considering closing its reablement centres at Benjamin Court in Cromer and Grays Fair Court in Costessey in a shake-up of its social care services.
The centres offer 18 and 20 beds respectively, which are used to care for people that are well enough to come out of hospital but who are still in need of support to go home.
But in a shake-up aiming to bring greater levels of care into people's homes, they could be closed down.
Officials say that both centres had been struggling with recruitment and retention of staff, with eight beds already closed at Benjamin Court.
Bosses also say the shake-up will mean the Norfolk First Support Service will be able to support 1,500 more people in 2023 - with potential savings of £2m.
They argue that this saving will be re-invested into care services - and that advancements in NHS home care such as virtual wards mean the beds are less necessary than when they were first established.
But critics have blasted the plans, questioning how the same quality of care can be provided in people's homes as bespoke care settings.
County councillor Steffan Aquarone, parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in North Norfolk, described the plans as "madness".
He said: "Our health and social care provision is on its knees.
"To close Benjamin Court - one of only a small number of units where patients can be discharged from hospital to recover - is madness.
"The proposal to replace them with home-based care will lead to untold misery and suffering by those people whose homes are totally unsuitable for recovery."
Alison Thomas, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for adult social care said: "We know that most people want to be able to go home when they are ready to leave hospital and we have a team of staff who provide short-term social care to get people back on their feet
"Our role is to support people in their homes and communities, while the NHS provides bed-based or nursing care to those who have some ongoing medical needs, through community hospitals or virtual wards.
"As part of our work to better join up health and social care, we have been working with NHS colleagues to ensure more people can live independently and receive the right support in the right place.
"This has included increasing the size and skills of our NFS teams, so that we can support more people than ever to recover and live independently at home.
"As our home support has increased, the NHS has also increased its community beds and wrap-around care, so we are consulting our staff on moving them to a home and community-based model, within Norfolk First Support.”
The move will put 86 jobs at risk - 59 at Grays Fair Court and 27 at Benjamin Court.
However, the department is currently also advertising for reablement support workers in the expanded home service and is encouraging staff from the two sites to apply.
The changes would not, however, affect the housing with care scheme offered at the two sites.
Benjamin Court's housing with care services are offered by Norsecare - the council's arm's length care provider.
The decision is dependent on a consultation with staff working in the service and is due to be made in due course.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of patient group Healthwatch Norfolk urged bosses to consider their decision carefully.
He said: "At that stage, it is important that all options are explored with all partners before a final decision is made.”
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