The Orchard Hill hospital for people with learning difficulties in Sutton, Surrey, will not meet the Valuing People deadline to close long-stay hospitals by March 2006 following delays caused by a legal battle.
This week the hospital said it was reviewing its closure timetable following the end of a lengthy dispute about future plans for residents.
Parents of two people living at Orchard Hill launched a judicial review of Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust's decision in May 2004 to move residents into community-based services.
The case was taken over by the Official Solicitor, who acted on behalf of all the people living at the hospital, and an agreement was reached in July that most residents would move into the community.
The 38 remaining residents, with problems including challenging behaviour, mental health and physical health needs, are currently being assessed by a panel of independent experts to decide whether they should stay in a small health care unit on the Orchard Hill site.
