EDWARD MOUNTAIN: Care home funding isn't working for the Highlands
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Holyrood Notebook by Edward Mountain
The long-term viability of our Highland care homes is at stake and urgent action is needed now to address our region’s ongoing social care crisis.
The spate of closures since January 2022 has been devastating for care home residents and staff. We have seen six independent care homes close in quick succession, including Shoremill in Cromarty, Mo Dhachaidh in Ullapool, Castle Gardens in Invergordon and Caladh Sona in Sutherland.
We have a moral obligation to look after our elderly, as they once looked after us, but our current care system is failing in this task.
This trend of closures is simply unsustainable and it is clear that the national funding settlement isn’t working for the unique needs of the Highlands, especially for our independent care homes.
Indeed, for our independent providers to be economically viable they would likely require a 40 per cent uplift in funding that is provided by the public purse per patient.
However, at a time when more funding is needed for our local care services, the SNP-Green government continue to persist with their plans for a National Care Service, a proposal which is likely to divert £1.3 billion away from frontline services. That’s the last thing we need.
Instead, we require the funding model for social care to be reformed so it works for the Highlands and not just the central belt. The current funding settlement is designed to favour care homes with an average size of 50 beds, but the vast majority of Highland care homes are much smaller than that.
This has a knock-on impact on overall care provision as inadequate funding means independent care homes are unable to attract staff and meet all the care needs of the Highlands.
As long as our region’s care home providers are disadvantaged by a system that is unwilling to provide sufficient funding, then there remains a serious risk of further closures.
The Highland social care crisis is one of the key issues I expect constituents will raise with me during my summer surgery tour, along with our region’s need for a brand new acute general teaching hospital.
With that in mind, I will be using my surgery tour to collect signatures for my petition to replace Raigmore as well. Hundreds have already signed up and if you would like to join them then please feel free to visit one of my many street surgeries.
Beginning in July, I have around 22 surgeries planned for the summer and my journey will begin in Strathpeffer, then I will visit Garve before making the scenic journey over to the west coast via Achnasheen, Lochcarron and Applecross. Then I will travel northwards up the coastline, stopping at Shieldaig, Gairloch, and Ullapool.
I will be visiting the far north-west coast to Lochinver and Scourie, and then across to Durness and Tongue, before heading south to Lairg.
Further details of my surgery locations will be advertised in the local press, my website and social media channels. No appointment is necessary, so please feel free to turn up on the day if you require my assistance.
I would also like to make it clear that you do not have to wait for me to come to you before seeking help. My office is open throughout the summer and is always ready to provide assistance by phone, email or letter.
- Edward Mountain is a Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
