Kinlochbervie resident's fears over Wildland involvement in multi-million new north coast health hub
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A LONG-STANDING north west Sutherland resident has expressed disquiet over the potential involvement of Wildland Ltd in a new, multi-million pound health hub planned for Tongue.
Former crofter Michael Otter of Kinlochbervie is calling for more clarity as to exactly what role Wildland, owned by business tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen, would play in the building and running of the proposed health hub.
He fears the company will “inevitably have some element of control of the health and social care facility”.
The health hub would replace two small residential care homes, Sinclair Court at Melvich and Caladh Sona at Talmine. Highland Council has allocated £5 million in its capital plan for the facility.
Initially it was intended that the new unit would be located on council owned land in Tongue but Wildland, which manages three Scottish estates and has land near Tongue, suggested a different site and offered to fund the building and lease it to Highland Council. Commercial discussions have since been ongoing but have been kept confidential.
A report outlining options was expected to go before councillors at a meeting next Thursday but it is understood that it has been delayed
Mr Otter has raised his concerns with north, west and central Sutherland councillors Hugh Morrison, Linda Munro and Kirsteen Currie as well as MSP Rhoda Grant. He also wrote last month to NHS chief executive Pam Dudek but has yet to have a response.
He said: “My particular concern is whether Wildland or any company in its group will have any influence on the operation of the new home, and whether they will take any financial benefit from it - including, in particular from the fees paid by residents. I believe this should be unacceptable and would be an obvious retrograde step.
“It is well recognised that private investment in care homes generally means higher cost for residents or their families."
He added: “The impression I have is that this risks becoming a fait accompli, without councillors or the public having a proper opportunity to appreciate the underlying principle that is at stake. That principle, I believe, is that, where possible, care homes should be owned by the local authority and operated by NHS, which is the case here at present.”
Cllr Linda Munro, chairman of the health, social care and wellbeing committee, said: “I fully expect an options paper to be presented at the September 9 meeting, when elected members will decide the option they believe best meets the needs of the North Coast communities."
Wildland chief executive Tim Kirkwood said: "If Highland Council and NHS Highland choose to work with Wildland in delivering the new care home, neither Wildland nor any company within its group will have any influence on its operation.
"Subject to the financial arrangements being approved by the council as acceptable value, Wildland will be paid a rent based on part of the cost of the new care home by the council who will save the funding costs and risks in developing the facility.
"The management and operation of the facility would sit with NHS Highland as provider of health and social care services and any matter relating to fees for the residents would rest with Highland Council and the NHS as occupiers and operators."
He added that Wildland's objective was to deliver an "exemplar health care building at an affordable cost to the public purse, whilst releasing added value through the realisation of the health hub ambition and enhancing the amenity and setting of the village of Tongue and its listed buildings".
