A CARE home is to close its nursing 'suite' area for elderly people with dementia living at the centre.

Managers at Reuben Manor Care Home in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton blamed an on-going crisis in nursing staff shortages which is affecting the whole industry and said the nursing service would cease from Friday, April 29.

A spokesman for Silk Healthcare, which runs the home, said: "It is with enormous regret that we have concluded that we can no longer continue to provide nursing care at Reuben Manor. Reuben Manor opened in 2009 and has encountered continual challenges in the ongoing recruitment of nursing staff. The shortage of nurses has meant providing nursing care is unsustainable, and this is not only affecting us but is a key challenge facing the healthcare sector."

Angela Swift, Managing Director said “Silk Healthcare is proud that Reuben Manor Care Home was awarded Outstanding for its care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at our last inspection, and remains dedicated and committed to serving the local community’s care needs. It is therefore with great sadness that we have no alternative but to close the nursing suite at Reuben Manor. This will be a distressing time for everyone, including my ‘team of angels’ who are devoted and loyal staff on the nursing suite, most of whom have been with us since we opened in 2009”.

Eaglescliffe councillor, Phil Dennis, has taken an interest in developments the home and has been kept informed. Reuben Manor provides 83 residential beds in total, 28 of which are currently dementia nursing, it is these people in these beds that will be affected by the announcement.