MORE than 40 care homes across Northern Ireland are to be sold.
Administrators for Four Seasons Health Care have launched a process to sell the facilities after its parent company entered administration last April.
The company, which employs 2,200 people in the north, said its priority was to ensure the safety and care of residents at the 42 homes.
A spokesperson told the BBC: "Our utmost priority remains ensuring the safety, quality of life and continuity of care for all of our residents".
Trade union GMB last night said "staff and residents need reassurances that services and jobs will be maintained".
It is seeking support from communities and politicians to make sure the care home company "safeguard residents during the process".
Alan Perry from GMB said: "The announcement is a shock, which will impact on the hundreds of vulnerable elderly people and their families who are already concerned about their loved ones in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.
"The decision to sell off these care homes will also affect the hard-working staff who have put their lives and health in the line.
"At a time when we are all being told to pull together, during the most serious pandemic in our lifetime we didn’t expect this bombshell, which comes just as we approach what looks like a very difficult winter for the NHS.
"We know there is a need for some investment in the company and we have serious worries for staff and residents, as it is possible that some homes are at risk of permanent closure.
"The whole question of care homes being in private hands, rather than part of the NHS, needs to be looked at."
