A man whose elderly mother will soon be forced to leave her council-run care home after plans to sell it collapsed days before Christmas fears the situation could "kill her".
Nigel Ogle's 96-year-old mother, Babette, who lives with dementia, has lived at The Leys care home in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, for the past seven years.
But she will soon have to pack up and move after the planned sale of the care home to a new provider fell through.
Refom-UK led Derbyshire County Council had agreed in principle for a single care home provider to take over the running of The Leys and seven others of its homes as part of plans to remodel its care services.
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The proposals were agreed in November of last year under the local authority's then Conservative administration.
Mr Ogle told GB News: "This time last year we all received letters and phone calls about the home my mum was in and we fought it and found out the home was going to be sold.
"I was in contact with the MP John Whitby, and I got an email in May saying this is going to be your mother's home they have got a buyer, it is going to stay as a home.
"Then yesterday, just totally out of the blue, I got a call to say the sale has fallen through, so now they are just going to sell the building and everybody has to be relocated.
Nigel Ogle was told his mother would need to be 'relocated' after the care home sale fell through
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"Ten days before Christmas and it happened last Christmas as well - we were in the same position."
The 65-year-old, who lives in Buckingham, said he previously supported Reform UK but "now my attitude has really gone".
Mr Ogle said he has not been made aware of when his mother could be told to vacate the home.
"At this moment in time, I spoke to someone today and they said they haven't got a timescale," he told the People's Channel.
"The cheek of it, they said 'try and enjoy your Christmas and we will be in contact in the New Year'.
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The Leys is one of eight care homes which were set to be sold by the council to a new provider
|"How can you enjoy your Christmas knowing that your mum, a 96-year-old with dementia, is going to be uprooted? It will kill her.
"I have looked at medical research and people with dementia need to be familiar with things and to do this at any time of year is unimaginable.
"I am disgusted by how they treat them and yet they have got the money to house illegal migrants in hotels."
Mr Ogle said he feels The Leys should not be sold "at all", adding: "A home is not about profit - at the end of the day it is my mum's home."
Derbyshire County Council said it had been in "intensive negotiations" with the proposed provider for the care homes over several months.
Councillor Joss Barnes, cabinet member for adult care, said: "I’m devastated by the news that despite the hard work by the council and the company, the negotiations have failed to come to the positive conclusion we’d hoped and worked hard for.
"I know this will be extremely upsetting news for all our residents and their families, as well as our hard-working care colleagues, especially coming at this time of year in the run-up to Christmas.
"I’d like to thank everyone for their hard work, patience and persistence and I’d also like to say how incredibly sorry I am that this hasn’t worked out as we’d hoped and planned for.
"We have done absolutely everything to progress the sale, but in the end it wasn’t possible. Due to commercial sensitivities, we’re not able to give any more details regarding negotiations."
Councillor Barnes said that he was "extremely sad" to make the announcement, adding that support will be provided to families and residents impacted.
John Whitby, Labour MP for Derbyshire Dales, has called on the council to "reverse course and save these homes".
He said: "The news that Reform has taken the decision to close eight care homes in Derbyshire, including The Leys in Ashbourne, is devastating.
"It was wrong of the Conservatives to put these homes up for sale, and it is wrong of Reform to announce their closure.
John Whitby MP has called on the council to 'save the homes'
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"The Leys is a much-loved home, and closing it risks leaving residents without the vital care they need and hard-working staff facing news of redundancies just before Christmas.
"This news makes clear that Reform’s cuts to public services will leave our communities poorer and more vulnerable.
"I urge Derbyshire County Council to reverse course and save these homes while there is still time."
Trade union, Unison, claims families and staff at the homes have faced "months of delays and unanswered questions" over the potential sale of the homes.
East Midlands regional organiser at Unison, Dave Ratchford, said: "This is a devastating blow for residents, families and staff. It should never have come to this.
"We are urging the Leader of the Council, Alan Graves, to intervene and stop these closures before irreversible damage is done.
"There is still time to rethink this approach and protect residents who rely on stable, familiar care and staff who have dedicated their working lives to supporting them."
Other care homes impacted include Briar Close in Borrowash, Castle Court, in Swadlincote, The Grange in Eckington, Lacemaker Court in Long Eaton, New Bassett House in Shirebrook, Rowthorne in Swanwick and Thomas Colledge House in Bolsover.
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