A woman has been left outraged after her sister was moved to a care home 60 miles away from her family.
Cheryl Miller, 49, has complex needs and has received around the clock care at Bailiffgate care home in Alnwick for the last 13 years.
Earlier this year Cheryl's family were told by the care home provider St Cuthbert's Care that the facility would be closing and she would need to be moved.
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Her sister, Rebecca Miller, said they asked the care provider and social workers at Northumberland County Council for Cheryl to be moved to another home in Alnwick.
But as the lease came to an end last month, they were given the devastating news Cheryl would be moved to a care facility in Haydon Bridge, near Hexham.
Rebecca, from Alnwick, said: "She is absolutely distraught. She has basically been taken from her home and left by herself.
"We were told it was closing down so she would have to find somewhere else. This was back in January so they have known since then that it was going to happen.
"I have been fighting to keep her in Alnwick where her family are and she has only known Alnwick her whole life.
"Then all of a sudden we were told she would be moved to Haydon Bridge. My argument is that Cheryl is 49 and has never lived by herself until Friday. She can't care for herself, can't cook for herself and needs help for everything.
"Every time I have been with Cheryl she has been upset and crying."
Cheryl is now facing long journeys to attend essential appointments.
"She had to do a 120-mile round trip to go to the dentist in Alnwick," Rebecca said.
Now, Rebecca if fighting to have Cheryl live with her until suitable accommodation can be found in Alnwick. She said: "I'm so upset, I feel like crying. It is absolutely disgusting and making me ill.
"I just want her with me where I know she will get looked after. I think it is absolutely disgusting the way the whole thing has been handled."
A Northumberland County Council spokesperson: “When we are informed that a service is closing, we always try to find a suitable alternative nearby where the residents can remain together.
“Unfortunately, the alternatives we had identified in Alnwick turned out not to be suitable and we were forced to look further afield to find safe accommodation and support.
“The facility at Haydon Bridge provides 24-hour services, but we completely understand that the location is not ideal for the family. We will continue to work closely with the family to try to find somewhere suitable that is closer to home.”
Nic Gilbert, director of finance at St Cuthbert's Care, said they had been in discussion with the local authority for over three years regarding the financial under-funding of this home.
He added: "These discussions centred around finding a suitable home in Alnwick, which had been arranged. We share the family’s concern at this last-minute change, particularly at the distance involved.
"Our priority has always been the wellbeing of our residents and to accommodate our residents and families’ wishes.
"As a provider, and not the local authority, this matter is out of our hands, but we are continuing to support and will advocate for our residents and families’ best interests until we feel that this matter is satisfactorily resolved.”
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