A STATE-OF-THE-ART care home that supports people with sight loss is set to shut, with bosses citing “unsustainable financial losses”.

In a shock announcement, Sight Scotland chiefs have said they are proposing to close Jenny’s Well, in Paisley, after being forced to delve into the charity’s own reserves to keep the specialist facility going during the coronavirus pandemic.

The care home opened its doors in 2017 and was built alongside the Hawkhead Centre for visually impaired veterans as part of a £17million groundbreaking project.

READ MORE: Rab C Nesbitt star Elaine Mackenzie Ellis tells of Glasgow housing hell

During 2019/20, the Hawkhead Road home reported a deficit of £730,000, and bosses have now been told there is little chance of transforming its fortunes following the devastating impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.

It is understood dozens of jobs are now under threat, with staff currently going through a consultation process.

Sight Scotland has also announced it intends to shut its other home – Braeside House – in Edinburgh.

Mark O’Donnell, chief executive of Sight Scotland, said: “It is with great sadness we have announced we are proposing to potentially close our two care homes for older people, Jenny’s Well in Paisley and Braeside House in Edinburgh.

“An increasingly difficult financial environment for care homes has meant we have had to subsidise heavily our older people’s care homes from our charitable reserves, to a level that is no longer sustainable.

“Jenny’s Well reported a financial deficit of £730,000 for the year ending 2019/20. The pandemic has thrown these issues into sharp relief. 

“We have sought independent expert advice from different sources, all of which has sadly concluded there is little realistic prospect of turning this around.

“We are engaging in a consultation process with affected staff and will be supporting the residents and their families in their transition to alternative care arrangements. 

“We will continue to provide care to residents until alternative provision has been identified for them, and we will be working closely with health and social care partnerships during this process.

“Over the next decade the number of people living with visual impairment in Scotland will increase by 30,000, and Sight Scotland has had to reflect on how we can best meet the needs of a growing number of older people with sight loss who will require care and support in their communities.

“While we are proposing to change how we support older people living with sight loss, we are also taking forward plans to develop new services to support the increasing number of visually-impaired older people.”

Jenny’s Well has 54 bedrooms but it's understood only 21 residents are living there at the moment.

It is believed Sight Scotland could shut the care home in as little as three months’ time.

Sources have said Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) was given no prior warning of the closure and was apparently hit with the news on Thursday evening alongside staff and families.

READ MORE: Glasgow councillor skips council meeting for Edinburgh pub crawl

The HSCP has said it is now working with the charity, residents and their families to offer support and the LDRS believes it is due to hold a meeting with Mr O’Donnell on Monday.

A HSCP spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the residents and staff of Jenny’s Well at this worrying time.

“We will continue to work closely with Sight Scotland, and directly with residents and their families, to offer our support and ensure the best possible outcome for all residents.”