A new home for the elderly in the Upper Town was officially opened yesterday evening by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. The John Mackintosh Home, which is run by the Care Agency, has over fifty beds for the elderly and ground floor residential flats for people who require care but want to live in a more independent environment.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister Samantha Sacramento, Minister Dr John Cortes and Susan Vallejo (Care Agency). Mr Picardo said it was only fitting for a community with one of the strongest economies in the world to build such a state-of-the-art facility in order to look after the elderly. He said that although the building – which was originally a wing of the old St Bernard’s Hospital – was a necessary and welcome addition to the facilities available to the Care Agency, it was the caring and compassionate staff that made a real difference.