'Devastating' Ross-shire care home closure plan for Castle Gardens in Invergordon lamented by MSP amid calls for social care reform
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A ROSS-SHIRE MSP has lamented the impending closure of another care home in her patch and said it illustrates the need to reform the struggling social care sector.
As reported yesterday, Castle Gardens in Invergordon is set to close with difficulties in maintaining a full complement of staff cited as the reason.
NHS Highland is now working with provider HC-One to find homes for the 35 residents who are affected and to look at solutions for the staff affected.
NHS Highland said HC-One has advised "that for some time now at Castle Gardens, and in common with social care providers across the country, they have struggled to build and retain a full, permanent care team".
The health authority says there will be a "managed closure" of the home.
This follows the closure of Mo Dhachaidh in Ullapool just months after it was taken over by Parklands Care Homes whose boss Ron Taylor called the current economic climate "the most challenging we have ever faced". It said it was faced a wave of rising costs and it had become clear "that the costs of operating and upgrading Mo Dhachaidh to the required industry standard are simply not sustainable over the long term".
HC-One has been approached for comment on the situation at Castle Gardens.
Meanwhile Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd said: "I am sorry to learn of yet another care home closure in my constituency. I know that the loss of Castle Gardens will be felt keenly amongst the Invergordon and wider Easter Ross community.
“I had the pleasure of meeting with the dedicated staff at Castle Gardens last summer, where the team’s passion for providing person-centred, high-quality care was evident. We cannot afford to lose staff like this in the health and social care sector; therefore, I welcome NHS Highland’s commitment to retaining Castle Gardens staff over the managed closure period and thereafter in roles within NHS Highland or through partner providers.
“This most recent care home closure is another example which demonstrates the need for reform in the social care sector. Right now, our rural communities are losing social care facilities, which can be devastating and disruptive to both residents and their families and friends.
“I will continue to engage closely with NHS Highland and the Highland Council on this matter. I will also be writing to the minister with responsibility for social care when a new government is formed next week, where I will request that upcoming policy decisions relating to social care are considerate of the distinct challenges faced in rural areas.”
