First Minister expresses concern for residents of care home facing closure

The Scottish government, led by First Minister John Swinney, has extended an offer of assistance to seek a resolution for approximately 40 residents of a care home facing potential closure. Private operator HC-One had indicated in September that its Moss Park facility, situated in Caol near Fort William, might cease operations. As a contingency measure, Highland Council and NHS Highland are making plans to relocate residents to alternative facilities. During First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Mr. Swinney conveyed to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) that he found the situation troubling. In response to an inquiry from Scottish Conservative MSP Halcro Johnston, Mr. Swinney stated that Health Secretary Neil Gray and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who also serves as the local MSP, had participated in talks regarding the care home’s prospects. The First Minister further remarked: “The government stands ready to be willing and engaged to try and find a solution because the impact of the proposed closure is moving in entirely the opposite direction to the one I want to see things moving.” Families of the residents are concerned that any relocation might entail moving to homes situated a considerable distance from Fort William. Norman Calder, 76, whose wife Becky resides at Moss Park, expressed apprehension that she might be transferred 78 miles to Lochgilphead in Argyll or 164 miles to Wick in Caithness. He informed BBC Naidheachdan: “I go down to see her every day, sometimes twice a day.” “It’s not nice having your wife in a home, but she is getting the best treatment that we can get for her.” “It would be devastating for people in the whole of Lochaber, not just Fort William, if Moss Park was to close because there is nowhere else for them to go.” Highland Council stated that efforts are underway to identify an alternative to the closure of Moss Park. David Fraser, chairman of health and social care, commented: “We understand that this is a worrying time for residents, relatives and all involved, while we continue to pursue potential solutions for Moss Park residents.” He added: “This is a challenging situation.” HC-One had indicated in September that it had been collaborating with authorities to safeguard the future of Moss Park. The facility was one of a limited number of homes across Scotland that the company listed for sale in March 2021. A spokesperson for HC-One remarked: “Unfortunately, at Moss Park, we have long struggled to build and retain the full, permanent care teams needed to consistently deliver the high standards of care that our residents deserve.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.