Favell House, the respite centre in Northampton for people with conditions such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, will close, health bosses have confirmed today.
The centre, over which residents and carers fought an emotional campaign, has been branded too expensive by NHS Nene despite arguments that it was a flagship for exemplary care.
A second money saving proposal thatwas being consulted on, changes in community podiatry services, will also go ahead as planned.
Dr Darin Seiger, chair of NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We want to thank everyone who has taken part in these consultations which have been a valuable listening exercise for the CCGs. We know how highly these services are valued by patients and staff and I hope that they will see how their views have shaped our decision making.
“None of these are easy decisions, but given the financial challenge facing the NHS nationally, and in Northamptonshire where we face a shortfall of £44m this year alone, we need to work together to find new ways of providing high quality services that are sustainable financially as well as clinically.
“We agree with the views of many people who have told us that children and vulnerable adults should be exempt from the move to remove low risk community podiatry. We also agree that alternative respite care models need to be developed, that particular care is given to supporting the existing users of Favell House in the transition to new models of care and that more information about personal health budgets is made available.
“We will now work with patients, clinicians and our key stakeholders, including the Health, Adult Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, over the coming weeks to refine and agree the next steps.”