Southern Cross solution

A SOLUTION to the financial woes of stricken care homes provider Southern Cross will be delivered within four months.

A deal, hammered out at a crisis meeting between its landlords and lenders yesterday, is designed to allay fears that frail and elderly residents may suffer disruption if the company collapses.

It could also help restore confidence in the company, which runs 752 care homes, including two in Oldham — Treelands and Avalon.

However, it is expected that Southern Cross will ultimately be left a much smaller company.