A health board has vowed not to turn its back on the Llŷn Peninsula despite the expected closure of a 40 bed nursing home.

It was confirmed this week that charity owners of the private Penrhos Polish Home, which recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, is planning for a “phased closure” of its nursing and care facilities by March 2021.

This was blamed on “a long period of financial uncertainty” and the costs of improving the home to meet modern standards, having been initially set up to provide accommodation and support to Polish ex-service men and women who remained in Britain following World War II.

The move will not affect those living in the 63 on-site sheltered care units, with the Clwyd Alyn housing association currently in discussions over their long-term future.

But following calls from local politicians on the health board to “pull out all the stops” to ensure that nursing bed provision is maintained on the Llŷn Peninsula, it has reiterated a commitment to meeting local needs.

Chris Stockport, Executive Director for Primary Care and Community Services at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “I want to make it absolutely clear that we have no intention of turning our backs on the Llŷn Peninsula.

“We had a very productive meeting with local politicians earlier this week where we shared progress made to address the situation with the home’s closure.

“We absolutely agree that residents within the Llŷn need to have local provisions, which includes but is not limited to nursing beds.

“As we shared at the meeting earlier this week, we’ve agreed to undertake an assessment, which all present agreed to support, to identify future needs so that provision in the area could be made stable and sustainable.

“We are also continuing to support patients and families with future arrangements for their loved ones.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor, the Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said that the Polish home was an “integral part of the community for many decades” and served the area with distinction.

He added, “Penrhos is more than a Polish Home, it is also the nursing home for the Llŷn peninsula and ensures that elderly residents who require nursing care can live on the Llŷn near to their loved ones.

“The area needs nursing beds and it is incumbent on the local Health Board to pull out all the stops to ensure that nursing bed provision continues in this rural and dispersed corner of north west Wales.”

Gwynedd council’s cabinet has already approved Clwyd Alyn application to operate in Gwynedd as a social housing provider, allowing the sheltered housing and other elements of the site to be transferred to Clwyd Alyn.

But local councillor, Angela Russell, said that agencies cannot be allowed to turn their backs on the area in terms of more intensive care.

“A lot of families here are extremely grateful to the Polish Homes Association for the care that they have given their loved ones over the decades and it will be a terribly sad day when the organisation leaves,” said Cllr Russell, the leader of Gwynedd’s Independent group.

“However, we must ensure that nursing beds are retained here. The Health Board and the Welsh Government have the ability to ensure that nursing care is made available.

“They cannot turn their backs on Pen Llŷn.”

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP, Liz Saville Roberts, added: “There is clear demand for nursing beds in Pen Llŷn. There is no other such provision here.

“It would be unacceptable to expect relatives and elderly loved ones to face travelling long distances on our rural road network to visit people in distant nursing homes.

“This is why we are calling on the local Health Board and the Welsh Government to urgently work with other stakeholders and ensure that nursing bed provision will be maintained here.”

The Welsh Government has been approached to comment.