NURSING homes remain at breaking point and face substantial reductions in bed numbers next year, the Worcestershire Nursing Homes Association has warned.

The county council's cash offer to care for patients will put homes out of business and force others to concentrate on the private market, claims association deputy chairman Peter Davidson.

He said other homes, particularly smaller ones, were likely to close during the next 12 months.

The bleak picture has been outlined to Worcestershire County Council, which this year successfully reduced a threatened £4.6m Social Services deficit.

Social Services bosses have come under fire for offering increases of just £12, to £358 per week for a single room in a nursing home - £27 less than the £385 figure demanded by the WNHA.

Mr Davidson said homes needed £380 to break even, and an extra £1m-£1.25m was needed to meet the nursing homes' claim in full.

"It's disappointing they're not listening to what we're saying," he said. "There's real concern the services we provide will no longer be there next year.

"Three homes went out of business last year and there was a reduction of 90 beds according to Social Services, although we reckoned it was nearer 120.

"Inevitably, the smaller homes will feel the pressure more quickly. The figure of £385 isn't an aspiration - that's what we need just to break even."

In the private sector rates are £410 per week.

Councillor Peter Pinfield, portfolio holder for Social Services, in a letter to Mr Davidson said the balance between nursing and residential homes was shifting.

He said some patients in nursing homes could have been treated in residential homes.

But Mr Davidson said labour costs for nursing homes accounted for 60 per cent of their turnover compared to 35 per cent for residential homes.

"We've given a 3.5 per cent increase in the amount paid, which is significantly higher than current inflation," said Paul Jays, Worcestershire's head of adult services.

"Our increase compares favourably with that of other authorities and we'll be negotiating with WHNA and the Residential Homes Association with a view to paying extra for older people with mental problems."