A TRADE union has called on the Government to step in and take control of a care home company which is in financial difficulties.

Southern Cross, which runs six homes in Oxfordshire, needs a £100m cash injection and could sell up to 200 of its homes as it tries to return to profit.

Yesterday, the company warned it was in a “critical financial position”, as it announced a pre-tax loss of £310.9m in the six months to March.

Justin Bowden, a national officer with the GMB, called on the Department for Work & Pensions to intervene.

He said: “How much longer must the 31,000 Southern Cross residents, their families and the 44,000 staff have the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads before Government steps in, takes Southern Cross by the scruff of the neck and restores confidence and calm?

“These are real people, needy and vulnerable, not pawns in some big business game of commercial chess.

“The Government cannot dismiss the situation at Southern Cross as a commercial problem between commercial interests.”

Last week, the Oxford Mail published details of a damning report by the Care Quality Commission, which found the company’s 66-resident Brookfield Christian Care Home, in Little Bury, Greater Leys, Oxford had failed to meet seven out of 11 essential standards.

Oxfordshire County Council funds places for 42 of the residents.

No one from Southern Cross was available for comment last night.