Concerns about the future of the Cherries
A large number of families who use the Cherries Respite Centre have been in contact with local MP Andrew Tyrie after a review of services has left the Centre threatened with closure.
Mr Tyrie immediately spoke to Sue Braysher, the NHS Director of Transition and Commissioning Development, raising the concerns of parents who rely on the service.
Following this conversation, Amanda Fadero, the Chief Executive of NHS West Sussex, wrote to Mr Tyrie to update him on the future of these services. However, both the timeline for a decision, as well as the contents of the ‘initial options appraisal paper’, remain unclear.
Speaking about the uncertainty surrounding the future of The Cherries, Andrew Tyrie, MP for Chichester, has said:
“The Cherries is a fantastic local resource, providing first class respite care for a large number of families. Many parents who rely on it are now understandably anxious about its future.
“Despite my best efforts to find out, we know neither the timeline for these decisions, nor the substance of the appraisals process.
We could do with more transparency. Only that way can the parents and the public have confidence in the decision.”