Families are still waiting for answers as the deadline to save a disabled children's centre is fast approaching.

Nascot Lawn Respite Centre is still set to close in January next year after funding from the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group was pulled earlier this year.

Hertfordshire County Council put together a health scrutiny panel to look at whether funding for the centre will be sustainable, who are yet to announce their verdict.

This includes looking at a plan for parents have proposed which would mean they would part fund the service, HVCCG have cut funding after being in financial turnaround by NHS England, as they were tasked with finding £45 million in savings this year.

A HVCCG spokesperson said: “As our budgets come under increasing pressure we have to concentrate resources on services that we have a legal responsibility to provide.

“It is unfortunately not possible for us to fund services, including at Nascot lawn, that fall outside of this remit and that are the responsibility of the local authority.”

Despite the move is being made to save money, the CCG has not provided a figure for how much they are expected to save, and will not be able to state this until assessments of the children are completed.

Many of the children need continuing care, which the CCG will still be responsible for funding, and more hospital visits may be expensive.

Although there is question over whether their is a need to keep the centre open, the council have proposed an extra eight spaces at Breakspeare School in Bushey due to high demand.

Chief Executive of Healthwatch Hertfordshire Geoff Brown said: "This situation has highlighted once again the need for early and frank engagement with the public and partners.

"Not just for the patients and families of Nascot Lawn, but for everyone within Hertfordshire.

"People understand the services they use and the support they need. We need to listen if we want to shape services in a way that works and is affordable.”