Pagham care home residents on the move

The 33 residents and some 50 members of staff at Kings Haven are starting to move out.

The process will take two days as they transfer their operations a couple of miles north to Elizabeth House in Victoria Drive.

The move is being co-ordinated by Shaw Healthcare, which runs both homes on behalf of West Sussex County Council.

Fiona Lawrence, Shaw's business development manager, said: "The two homes are like chalk and cheese.

"It's the fact our views and thoughts about care have changed over the years."

Kings Haven in Kings Drive was opened in 1984.

It was modern for its time, but it has become old and somewhat antiquated.

Its surroundings for its residents, who all suffer from dementia, are considered outdated.

The county council at one time considered extending the home, in a residential cul-de-sac, to enable it to meet modern standards.

But district councillors rejected the plan in June 2004 because they said that adding a third storey to the building to provide 48 bedrooms was unacceptable.

Kings Haven was the only one of 15 homes which Shaw Healthcare took on just beforehand from the county council not to be rebuilt because it was considered to be relatively modern.

Ms Lawrence said: "In its day, King's Haven would have been considered ideal with its vast dining halls and sitting rooms.

"Bedrooms are small, apart from those where people once had to share.

"The only bathrooms are communal and the narrow and winding corridors are reminiscent of an old institution. It really is no longer fit for the purpose.

"Elizabeth House will, we hope, give residents and staff a new lease of life.

"It offers bright surroundings and a touch of luxury. It is purpose-built and extremely well-equipped.

"Residents will have their own private rooms with en-suite facilities and will be able to socialise in one of many smaller lounges, dining rooms of activity areas.

"It's all designed to be much more like home than Kings Haven."

Elizabeth House was built a couple of years ago on the site of a former home, closed in the early 1990s, and which became county council offices.

Its opening formed part of a countywide change in the provision and running of care homes

It has 60 bedrooms and has been occupied since its opening by a series of temporary residents. They have moved in while their homes, around Chichester and Littlehampton, have been rebuilt.

But the rooms to be occupied by the Kings Haven residents have been refurbished to make them seem brand new for those who will be living in them permanently.

The remaining rooms will be used by elderly people returning from Bognor after living in Shaw homes elsewhere.

The Kings Haven site of less than half an acre is owned by the county council. In 2004, when its previous plans were rejected, it said the land would be put up for sale once the home closed.

Up to 15 houses could be built there, it said at the time, if the buyer was a developer.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

.