Parents of carers of children who attend Nascot Lawn have been invited to give their views to the NHS.

Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) have been holding public meetings before they make a decision on the respite centre’s future.

Nascot Lawn in Watford, which cares for children with complex health needs, was due to close until public and political pressure forced HVCCG to order a stay of execution.

HVCCG’s chief executive Kathryn Magson said: “I’d like to thank all of the families and others who have taken the time to meet with us over recent months under what I appreciate are difficult circumstances.

“In the interests of providing certainty for families and also for Nascot Lawn staff we want to make our new decision as quickly as we can.

“In making our decision we will consider the information that has been generated as a result of the recent legal proceedings, joint needs assessments and any matters arising from our various discussions with families and stakeholders.

“The county council is key to resolving much of the uncertainty for parents and I very much hope that they will engage fully with this decision-making process.

“Our decision must also reflect HVCCG’s statutory responsibility to work within our allocated budget and prioritise spending on health services that we have a duty to commission.

“Whatever the decision about funding respite care, HVCCG will continue to fund a range of health services to meet the needs of children, young people and their families.”

HVCCG is exploring four options for the future of Nascot Lawn, with the first involving HVCCG ceasing funding of respite provision currently provided at Nascot Lawn.

The second would be for HVCCG to continue full funding of respite provision.

The third option entails HVCCG entering into joint arrangements with Herts County Council to fund respite provision, recognising the county council has the statutory responsibility for providing short breaks.

The fourth would consider the families’ proposal to create a fully-integrated overnight short breaks service to care for people from birth to age 25, meeting all of their health and social care needs and where health and social care services make joint decisions about care for each child.