A home for seniors in the West End that suffered major damage in a 2003 hurricane is to close.

The House of Assembly was told on Monday that Lefroy House would move from Ireland Island in Sandys to a new location in the Rockaway area of Southampton.

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, the Shadow Minister of Health, questioned whether cash had been budgeted for the move

She said the present building was “no longer fit for its purpose”.

Ms Gordon-Pamplin added that, as a former minister, she had examined “how we could rehabilitate the building — or, if something needs a wrecking ball, it needs a wrecking ball”.

MPs heard that Lefroy House at present charges residents $1,305 per month, compared to $5,000 a month for the Sylvia Richardson rest home in St George’s.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, said a five-year capital project for Lefroy House was planned.

She explained: “$250,000 is the estimate for 2019-20 and this is primarily budgeted for design work for this year to bring forward the concept phase to a designed facility that will replace the existing facility as a new-build in the Rockaway area of Southampton.”