The future of a Pembrokeshire residential home is to come under the spotlight.

Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet is being asked to consider a proposal to consult on the future of residential care services at Sunnybank Residential Home in Narberth.

Owned and managed by Pembrokeshire County Council, Sunnybank is one of two residential care homes for frail, older people in the county.

A report to a meeting of the county council's cabinet on Monday, November 4, says that at present the home has only 10 residents, with a further 18 accessing it for respite care, with two other day care service users.

The report to cabinet says that the cost of maintaining each resident in the home is more than £1,000 a week - more than twice the cost of commissioning a residential placement in the independent sector.

Sunnybank was built in the 1960s and repairing physical defects and bringing it up to modern day standards would cost around £2.6 million.

"Over the last decade, the county council has reduced the number of residential homes in its direct management and pursued a strategy of commissioning a range of community based alternatives," says the report.

"There are now two extra care housing schemes - one in Haverfordwest and one in Milford Haven - enabling people to live independently in purpose-built accommodation and at the same time have access to care delivered on site.

"A third extra care facility is nearing completion in Crymych, which will afford similar accommodation for between 40 and 50 people as a home for life and an alternative to residential care.

"This strategy is consistent with what our customers are telling us, which is that they wish to remain in their own home in the community as their first choice and in community based settings such as extra care housing, when they can no longer be supported at home."

The report points out that the population of older people in Pembrokeshire has risen over the last five years by approximately 15 per cent. For those people who require long-term care in residential and nursing homes, the vast majority of this care in Pembrokeshire is commissioned from, and delivered by, the independent sector.

If cabinet gives the go-ahead next week, then a team led by the head of service, Angela Watwood, will be set-up to undertake consultation and report back to a further cabinet meeting.

The matter will also be considered by the council's older persons, health and well-being overview and scrutiny committee.

County Councillor's comment

County Councillor Wynne Evans, who represents Narberth on Pembrokeshire County Council, said: "I will be actively involved in the process of review for the future provision of Sunnybank.

"I will scrutinise the all aspects to ensure there is active dialogue between all stakeholders and transparency and will be attending numerous meeting at this crucial time."