Health bosses have decided to stop funding a respite care centre, despite last-minute pleas from parents.

Nascot Lawn, in Langley Road, Watford, currently offers respite care for children and young people with complex health needs and learning disabilities from across Hertfordshire.

But today the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group  Board agreed to withdraw the necessary £600,000 a year funding from the service.

As part of the proposals the CCG also voted to enter into a joint agreement with Hertfordshire County Council and East and North Herts CCG to support respite care at the Council’s three existing respite facilities.

CCG chief executive Kathryn Magson said the plans reflected the acceptance that respite care was the statutory responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council and would ensure all children had access to care that was equitable across the county, as well as cutting costs for the CCG.

“People often say this is all about saving money,” said Ms Magson. “We have never hidden the fact that the original discussion came about from a financial perspective.

“We have been through a very difficult year and that has driven some difficult decisions. We take the decision to provide the best quality care, but within a fixed financial envelope.

“My responsibility is to balance the books and we have to make decisions based on all these factors.”

Before discussing the issue, Board members heard about the value of Nascot Lawn from parent Julie Josephs, whose child used to attend the centre.

She said that without the “beloved and safe haven” of Nascot Lawn, families would quickly reach breaking point. And she stressed the need for nursing care, which is not currently available at the centres run by the County Council.

“I believe a nurse-led service that provides a break to families of the most medically complex children is a safe and stimulating environment,” she said. “And we need it to continue. Parents need to know their vulnerable children are safe.”

And making a last-minute plea for Nascot Lawn to remain open, she said: “The NHS has funded Nascot Lawn for 30 years – dont stop now.”

Acknowledging the submissions that had been made by parents, Board chair Nicolas Small said: “The discussions we have had over the past year and a half are some of the most humbling, difficult and complicated issues that I have experienced in my term, in terms of commissioning.

“I would absolutely acknowledge our absolute admiration for the support from parents for their children.”

And Ms Magson said that she absolutely understood the feedback from families who wished to keep Nascot Lawn open.

During the discussion the Board heard that in recent months staff shortages at Nascot Lawn – which is operated by the Hertfordshire Community Trust – meant families could access just half of the respite care they were eligible for.

Board members were told that following the closure of Nascot Lawn care staff at other facilites could be trained by nurses so they had  the skills to adequately care for the needs of specific children and young people.

They heard that alternative provision would be found for all children before funding was withdrawn and that half of the children had already successfully made the transition to other facilities.

However parents at the meeting highlighted to the Board cases where one child was sleeping on a mattress on the floor because there wasn’t a suitable bed at the alternative centre and another was having to bring his own comode.

Ms Magson also addressed concerns raised by members of Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, on Wednesday, who said they were not satisfied that the current plans are in the interest of the health service.

The Scrutiny Committee had called for further negotiations between the Council and the CCG, so agreement could be reached before a decision was made.

And they said that if agreement could not be reached, a meeting of full Council would vote on whether or not to refer the matter to the Secretary of State.

Presenting a response she had written to the Scrutiny Committee chair County Councillor Seamus Quilty, Ms Magson outlined areas where the CCG agreed with the Council’s recommendations.

These included the need for funding for Nascot Lawn to continue until alternative respite was in place; the need for the CCGs and tthe Council to detail the nursing that will be available remain open; the need for a formal and legally binding agreement should be entered into and that the families and other stakeholders should be involved in the planning and delivery of the new service.

However Ms Magson said they needed  clarification from the Council before they could further consider financial contribution.

The letter states: “The CCG has requested clarification from HCC both in writing and at today’s meeting of what further exact financial contribution is sought from the CCG in order to address this recommendation, but has not been provided with this clarification.

“The CCG is unable to agree to a recomendation for an unspecified financial contribution, especially when this is in addition to the financial contribution that was agreed with officers of HCC.”

At the meeting the CCG Board agreed to cease funding Nascot Lawn and to enter into an agreement with Hertfordshire County Council and East and North Herts CCG.

They also agreed that chief executive Ms Magson should have the authority to negotiate with County Council officers on issues outstanding relating to recommendations by Scrutiny Committee.