RICHARD PARR A Norfolk care home could be rescued from closure at the eleventh hour after a potential buyer emerged.

RICHARD PARR

It's D-day tomorrow to see if a Norfolk care home can be rescued at the 11th hour from closure.

John and Fee Sharples, who operate three care homes in Norfolk, are considering buying the Old Rectory Sue Ryder Home at Walsingham.

The couple have been given until tomorrow to decide whether to go ahead - and during the past week have been weighing up every aspect of the home's operation before making their decision.

"I think it would be a tragedy for residents, staff and relatives if the home is closed," Mr Sharples said.

"However, there are a lot of issues to be considered before we can make a decision to go ahead or not."

Relatives and staff at the Scarborough Road home have faced months of uncertainty since the Sue Ryder organisation announced at the end of last year it was to sell the property in the face of rising financial loses.

At present, the home is losing £50,000 a week.

The organisation's other home in Norfolk - Old Hall at Snettisham - was closed earlier in the summer and the property sold to a development company.

In April it was announced that the Lowestoft-based Kingsley Care Homes company was the only group looking at purchasing the Walsingham home.

At the time the company's managing director, Daya Thayan , said that it would take several months for the due diligence stage to be completed in preparation for the purchase.

But Sue Ryder executive Steve Taylor has said they were "bitterly disappointed" that negotiations with Kingsley Care Homes had broken down due to "absolutely unacceptable delays" in the transaction.

Sue Ryder trustees then took the decision that the home would have to close and its residents moved to new homes.

On Wednesday , Sue Ryder chief executive Iain Henderson and other management representatives had planned to break the sad news to residents, staff and relatives - but plans changed at the eleventh hour when they became aware of Mr and Mrs Sharples' interest.

A senior nurse at Walsingham, Sarah Wright, said that because of the uncertainty over the home's future staff morale had become very low and everyone had been saddened by the situation.

"We have experienced several months of stress over this and the latest possible rescue also means more waiting, so people at the home are not holding their breath," said Ms Wright.