THE owners of Clyde Court Care Home in Clydebank have collapsed into administration.

Care home giant Four Seasons houses 13,000 elderly people across 250 homes in the UK, according to their website, however news reports suggests the number is much higher.

Concerns have been raised for residents since the collapse on Tuesday, the biggest care homes failure since Southern Cross went bust in 2011.

But the company insisted that individual homes will be unaffected by the move.

Dr Claire Royston, group medical director of Four Seasons, said: “Today’s news does not change the way we operate or how our homes are run or prompt any change for residents, families, employees and indeed suppliers.

“Our priority remains to deliver consistently good care. It marks the latest stage in the group’s restructuring process and allows us to move ahead with an orderly, independent sales process.”

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The firm has appointed corporate undertakers at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) to carry out the administration process following an aborted sale.

Late last year, US hedge fund H2 Capital Partners, which effectively controls Four Seasons, ordered a sale of the crisis-hit company, which is struggling under a £525million debt mountain. The bulk of the debt is held by H2.

Only weeks ago, Four Seasons insisted that it had “sufficient operating liquidity” to be able to complete the sale process.

Richard Fleming, of A&M, said: “We are committed to ensuring the group delivers continuity of care as we work to undertake the independent sales process.

“The group has continued to improve its quality ratings across their portfolio of homes and hospitals, and the operations are fundamentally strong.”

Gil Paterson, Clydebank’s MSP, said: “This is a worrying and unsettling development for the 63 residents in Clyde Court Care Home. The fact that the administrator is looking to find a solution with as little disruption to residents as possible is reassuring.”

The care home operated by the company at South Avenue in Clydebank has 70 rooms for residents and the team provide residential care, nursing care for those who have complex medical needs, both residential and nursing dementia care as well as respite care.

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Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “No doubt alarm bells will be ringing at the highest levels of the Scottish Government and local authorities, who should be looking at how they ensure continuity of care if no buyer is found for the business.”

Drew Duffy, GMB Scotland senior organiser, added: “This is yet another case in point of the crisis in our care sector.

“Our immediate priority is the safeguard of our members’ jobs and conditions across Four Seasons homes in Scotland and to help tackle any uncertainty.

“That’s why we have asked for an urgent meeting with the Scottish Government and COSLA representatives.

“Four Seasons is just the tip of the iceberg and there is a far wider debate that needs to be had about the sustainability of our care sector in its present form.”