Home 'starved' of cash

At a public meeting held to consult about the future of the home on Thursday, West Sussex social and caring services said it was partly the council's fault that St Giles had fallen below current health and fire standards.

The home now faces closure because of the costly improvements needed on the site. Around 70 staff, residents and relatives were at the meeting at Lancing Leisure Centre to voice fears about losing the place many call home.

After several asked why the home had been allowed to slip so far beneath acceptable standards, Richard Perry, social services head of resources, said: "It is partly the fault of the county council for the lack of investment. It's ultimately about difficulties with funding over a number of years."

The county council is currently drawing up a strategy aimed at providing up-to-date services for adults with physical disabilities and reducing the reliance on residential care.

Mr Perry added: "The days when the council inspected care homes has long since gone. It is now undertaken by the National Care Standards Commission, which is looking to ensure standards in all care homes are raised. It's also about the buildings themselves and

I'm sorry to say St Giles does not come close to meeting the standards."

Many of the residents fear the council has already made its decision to close the home, despite a public consultation exercise to run until October 31. Anne Anderson, who has lived at St Giles for six years after suffering a stroke when she was 25, said: "I would be devastated if it shut. I love living there."