TWO West Fife care homes are said to be running “as normal” despite holding companies belonging to their owners going into administration this week.

Four Seasons Health Care Group, which has Henderson House Care Home in Dalgety Bay and Benarty View Care Home in Kelty, announced on Tuesday that two of its holding companies were entering administration.

A company spokesman told the Press it was “absolutely business as normal”.

He added: “There are will be no previously unscheduled closures during the sale process. Continuity of care is the administrators’ priority, which will in turn preserve value in the group, and there will be no changes to how the care homes are operated.”

Four Seasons say the move is the next stage of its restructuring and have stressed that the operating companies under which the care home and hospital operations sit are not in administration.

A statement from Four Seasons Health Care said the group had entered into a funding agreement which provides “sufficient operational funding” to ensure continuity of care for all of the group’s residents and patients.

Group medical director Dr Claire Royston 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.”

Richard Fleming, joint administrator of Elli Investments Limited and Elli Finance (UK) Plc, the two holding companies, added: “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.

“The group’s operations are fundamentally strong and a successful sales process will enhance those operations’ ability to thrive.”

Following Tuesday’s announcement, GMB Scotland said they were seeking talks with the Scottish Government.

Senior organiser Drew Duffy said it was “yet another case in point” of the crisis in the 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 for an estimated 1,800 service users and their families,” he said.

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

“We will also continue to work with our union across the rest of the UK and in our engagements with the employer, administrators and the UK Government.

“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.”