Social care contracts in Somerset will be extended for a further two years after the coronavirus pandemic left "insufficient time" for fresh procurement.

Somerset County Council contracts a number of providers to run 'extra care' services across the county, providing round-the-clock support to hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people.

The current contracts – which are worth nearly £4.5million a year – are due to expire on March 31, which would have "an immediate and very significant negative impact" on existing service users and their families.

The council has now approved to extend these contracts for two more years, providing "continuity" for the under-pressure care sector and allowing a more comprehensive procurement process to be undertaken next time.

There are currently 15 extra care schemes operating in Somerset, which provide support for a total of 522 people across the following locations:

Hilda Coles House, Albert Street, Bridgwater

Gibb House, Rhode Lane, Bridgwater

Elizabeth Court, Mendip Way, Burnham-on-Sea

St Gilda's, Millfield, Chard

Bowhayes Lodge, Furland Road, Crewkerne

Keyford Heights, Randolph Road, Frome

Muchelney House, Abbots Close, Ilminster

Bearley House, East Street, Martock

Silvermead and Quantick Gardens, Silvermead, Minehead

Elizabeth House, Fons George, Taunton

Tennyson Court, Parmin Way, Taunton

Kilkenny Court, Station Approach, Taunton

Lodge Close, Lodge Close, Wellington

Pearson House, Roping Road, Yeovil

Malmesbury Court, The Cleve, Yeovil

Housing-related support is provided by either Abri, Magna West Somerset or Sanctuary, with more general care and support being contracted to either Somerset Care or Way Forward Care. The extension was formally approved by the council's cabinet when it met in Taunton on Monday morning (February 14). Tim Baverstock, the council's deputy director for adult social care, told the cabinet: "Anything that disrupts the care sector at this time could be extremely dangerous. We want to encourage continuity." He added in his written report: "It is not currently possible to deliver a re-commissioning and procurement exercise in line with our contract standing orders, within the current time scales. "The extension will allow for a detailed commissioning and procurement plan to be developed and delivered, which will include service user, stakeholder and provider consultation and wider market engagement, [allowing us] to re-design the service to ensure its fit for the future and meeting the needs of Somerset's residents. "The lack of time is due to commissioners being redeployed to support the operational team's efforts towards covid-19 and the increasing volume of demand for adult social care, at a time when social work vacancies and sickness levels are very high." The cabinet voted unanimously to approve the contract extensions with minimal debate. Details of the new commissioning and procurement plan are expected to be published after the elections to the new unitary Somerset Council in May.