The country's largest care homes provider is set to sell off more than 50 sites, amid fears the Covid crisis threatens future of care home companies.

HC-One, which offers care in Stevenage, will sell 52 homes – nearly a sixth of its entire portfolio – as it faces financial challenges stemming from the Covid crisis.

The toll of more than 40,000 coronavirus deaths in UK care homes over the last year has deterred many families from sending loved ones, instead caring for them at home during the pandemic.

Nub News has contacted the company for more information on whether their Stevenage care home will be affected. The 120 bed site is at Woodlands View in Magpie Crescent, three miles from the town centre.

In a statement HC-One said: "For awareness, we are investing in refurbishing more than 200 of our care homes, alongside our ongoing new build programme, as we modernise our portfolio.

"We are also putting 52 of our care homes up for sale where we feel they would be better served by a local operator in conjunction with other local services and we are proposing to close a further four homes.

"These sales and four closures will only happen when we are convinced that we have found the right alternative operator, and when residents are able to safely move to their new care placement."

The company added that they have made firm commitments to do so with commissioners, to ensure continuity of care and continuous service and smooth transitions for all involved.

They explained: "On the list of homes, our priority is our residents, their loved ones and our colleagues and as such our intention was that they receive the news of plan for their homes before the specific home names were released to the media.

"We are still in the process of informing residents, their loved ones and our colleagues which is why we are currently unable to confirm the list of homes."

HC-One concluded by saying they are working to ensure the process continues with the minimum disruption to their residents and colleagues as possible and as such "we will be able to confirm once we have spoken to them."

The struggling sector has experienced plunging occupancy caused by coronavirus while falling revenues from councils threaten long-term viability.

Care England, the care home body, has asked chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for £7bn to be ploughed into social care in Wednesday's budget.