MAIDSTONE and The Weald MP Ann Widdecombe has taken the Government to task over “Alice in Wonderland” rules she claims are causing scores of residential homes to close.

The Tory MP mounted a fierce attack on the regulations in a debate at Westminster attacking ministers for the “untold hardship” they were causing to the elderly in care.

The regulations, which lay down minimum standards for facilities at care homes, have caused controversy because of the costs involved.

In an Adjournment Debate, the MP cited the case of Hawkhurst Castle – due to close in August - and the recently closed Iden Manor, which used to care for vulnerable women with drug and alcohol problems – as examples.

Both homes had fallen foul of the regulations because they could not afford to make the improvements forced on them, the MP said. In addition, Greenbank Home in Maidstone was facing a £16,000 bill to convert a double room to a single room while overall in Kent, 236 care beds had been lost and 17 homes closed last year.

The MP stressed: "Regulations have led not only to homes closing but sometimes to their tottering on the brink of closure, creating uncertainty and tensions for some of the most vulnerable people for whom they are caring.

“The feeling in Kent…and other homes that are tottering on the brink but are not quite over it is that the minimum standards as currently laid down spring from an Alice in Wonderland world in which the Mad Hatter rules. Sadly, the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable are the victims.”

The absurdity of the rules was reflected by the fact that en suite facilities were “never used because residents are incapable and need to be escorted to specially adapted bathrooms."

Hawkhurst had become a casualty because it did not meet the specifications and had, as a result, failed to win placements from social services.

Health minister Jacqui Smith conceded there were some difficulties but accused Miss Widdecombe of scare-mongering. She said: “I recognise the care home market in Kent is not ideally balanced and some care home owners remain under pressure to sustain viable businesses.

“Even in Kent, there is evidence of expansion in care homes. I understand 25 care homes either received planning permission last year or are awaiting it so they can extend their premises.”

Miss Widdecombe’s call for care home owners to be given more time to meet the regulations was rejected.