A SCHEME which provides support for adults who need supervised care has announced that it will close at the end of March.

The scheme, which is provided at the Nightingale Living Well Centre in Great Well Drive, will close on March 31.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Following careful consideration, the county council has taken the difficult decision that the pilot day care scheme currently provided at Nightingale Living Well Centre in Romsey will end in March 2023.

“The new service that was being trialled was designed to offer local people the opportunity to access trusted care during the day, primarily on a ‘pay as you go’ basis, filling a potential gap in the market.

“However, post-pandemic, it is clear that the demand for day care has reduced – even where we have sought to develop a more innovative model – a trend being seen across day care for older adults in the public and private sector.

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“Despite the very best efforts of the local care team, with wider support from partner organisations, demand for the service has remained low – a situation which makes continuing funding of the service, financially unviable.

“The small number of people currently using the service have been informed, and all are being helped to find suitable alternative support that meets their individual care needs.”

The announcement of the scheme’s closure has upset several of its users, including West Totton resident Amanda Hickman whose husband Richard uses the scheme to help with his aggressive Parkinson’s.

Amanda said: “From a worker’s point of view, as an ex-Hampshire County Council care manager, I’m not surprised because, I said to my husband, it’s probably not viable financially.

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“But then, from a personal angle, I felt that they are not promoting it really.

“There are things they could do around here, there’s lots more things they could do to utilise this resource and they are not really looking into it.

“And I think that, like the facilities within it, in terms of the environment itself it’s very respectful and promotes (the user’s) wellbeing and it supports me as a carer to go on caring.

“And (Richard) doesn’t access any other resources or any other environments, and therefore he could then become more isolated.”

Mayor of the Test Valley, Cllr Alan Dowden, said: "I share the same concerns about the closure of the Nightingale Living Well Centre for day care in Romsey.

"Services are very limited through a shortage of care workers and inadequate funding from central government. Many depend on care services, not only those who are suffering from conditions, like aggressive Parkinson's and other disabling conditions, but also those who are caring for them.

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"Covid, I am sure has stopped some of those in need from attending. Scientists are producing more variations of vaccinations which may give people more confidence to attend such valuable facilities.

"More time should have been given before closing such a valuable resource."

County councillor for Romsey Town Cllr Mark Cooper said that it is "very sad to see the demise of the Nightingale Living Well Centre."

He continued: "It was a superb facility and the local care team have worked hard to get it up and running.

"But if the demand for its services is not there then financial viability is an issue."

The council has confirmed that the Nightingale Living Well Centre is separate from the Nightingale Lodge Extra Care development, which provides permanent accommodation for older people with care and support needs – with the council confirming that the latter service will remain open.