The future of a highly-valued care home in Fakenham has been secured.

There have been months of uncertainty over Cranmer House, on Norwich Road, after the North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had announced plans to cut healthcare beds at the unit.

But now the West Norfolk CCG has confirmed it will take on 13 beds - a move which secures Cranmer House's future.

A joint statement from West Norfolk CCG, North Norfolk CCG and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) said: 'We are delighted to confirm that West Norfolk CCG will be commissioning 13 beds at Cranmer House with effect from September 2017.

'These beds will be for patients who are not well enough to be at home but would benefit from some support and rehabilitation rather than, or after, a stay in hospital.'

Gilly Foortse, chairman of the Friends of Cranmer House, who fought to save the unit, said: 'This is fantastic news.

'Fifteen months ago it looked like Cranmer House would close and the building would be completely empty.

'The beds fund the day care service and respite care so this means Cranmer House will stay open and all these vital services will remain.'

West Norfolk CCG added: 'Norse Care will be providing the 24 hour care for people who stay in the beds, and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust will be providing a team of rehabilitation experts to ensure that people maintain and/or regain their independence as much and as soon as possible.

'By keeping their independence, West Norfolk CCG hopes that people within its community can stay in their own homes for longer, stay in hospital for less time or not even be admitted to hospital in the first place.

'By commissioning these additional beds at Cranmer House, West Norfolk CCG hopes to reduce the number of people that are placed into emergency care home placements, which do not provide expert rehabilitation to help them regain their independence.

'It also provides a valuable location for people who live in the north west of the region to have somewhere for their care closer to home.'