Decision to close care home 'not taken lightly'

Keith Powell, whose wife Susan is a resident at New Tyne, says he is "absolutely gutted" by the decision

A care home for elderly people with dementia is to close after a review found it was not "financially viable" to continue operating.

It was revealed in September that West Sussex County Council (WSCC) was considering shutting the New Tyne care home in Worthing amid viability concerns.

The review found it would cost the council significantly more to operate the home than to commission care externally. WSCC confirmed last year it planned to outsource elderly residential care.

The closure decision was made by cabinet member for adults services, Amanda Jupp, who says it was not "taken lightly".

She said the review showed "continuing to operate services at New Tyne is not financially viable in the long term, particularly when balanced against the need to provide sustainable, high-quality care for all our residents across the county".

Concerns about the cost of work needed to bring the care home up to an "acceptable standard" also contributed to the decision.

Ms Jupp said the well-being of the 12 current residents, who are now set to move into alternative care, will remain the council's priority.

A petition to save the home has attracted more than 2,200 signatures.

'Dumbstruck'

Residents and their families expressed dismay when the closure was first proposed.

Keith Powell, whose wife Sue is a resident, says he is "absolutely gutted" by the news, particularly because New Tyne is the only dementia home owned by WSCC.

He said that he and many of the affected families who he met on Wednesday afternoon are "dumbstruck" by the council's decision.

"A number of people were in tears", Mr Powell added.

Ms Jupp said staff would be supported in exploring alternative employment and redeployment within the council, as well as with redundancy should that materialise.

Dan Sartin, branch secretary of UNISON West Sussex which represents the home's 35 staff, described the decision as a "massive kick in the teeth".

He said: "Many have given their entire adult working lives caring for people at New Tyne. They are hugely let down today by both their employer and the cabinet member.

"It will be devastating for the families who understand just how grave the consequences could be for their loved ones."

Mr Sartin claimed that the council "took no notice" of the petition and made the decision "in a back room".

"This decision is so shockingly flawed in all its respects, it should never have been taken. Staff are furious and determined to see it overturned," he added.

The review included scrutiny by members of WSCC's health and adult social care scrutiny committee

The decision is subject to WSCC's call-in period.

A WSCC spokesperson said the decision to cease services "followed a comprehensive review of the services in the broader context of adult social care provision".

They said: "[It was] conducted over several months and included scrutiny by members of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.

"We engaged with staff and residents' families throughout, as well as UNISON and other stakeholders, and sought their views and opinions through the period of engagement."

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