Ross-shire care home boss urges Scottish Government intervention amid fears over 'crippling' challenges
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A BUSINESS boss whose company runs three care homes in Ross-shire says that without immediate and urgent support more closures in the Highlands are inevitable.
Parklands Care Homes managing director Ron Taylor has urged Social Care Minister and Ross MSP Maree Todd to help ease the crisis facing the sector.
He said: “Over the last 30 years, I’ve never ever experienced the state of the industry as it is now. The...accelerated number of closures is frightening, particularly in the Highlands with numerous homes closing, and I think it's undoubtedly going to get worse.
“We know that there is a huge amount of bed blocking within Raigmore and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, so surely the social care sector should be part of the solution, not the problem."
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He said that despite months of discussion, there is still no decision for sustainable funding in the social care sector.
“It's quite clear that COSLA don’t have any funds to take this any further, the Scottish Government need to intervene to help us out of this crisis. We are suffering crippling cost increases, crippling agency costs and we need financial assistance.
“We look after people who are blessed with old age.These people have given their lives to the community and now I feel we're letting them down.”
He says the National Care Home Contract, which sets out Scotland-wide rates for residential and nursing care, had “failed to keep pace with rising costs and now falls far short of what is needed to deliver high–quality care and support for older people".
Parklands - which runs homes in Fortrose, Muir of Ord and Tain – cited tough economic conditions in the January closure of Mo Dhachaidh in Ullapool, creating a knock-on impactfor the entire north-west Highlands.
The Scottish Government said: “We are committed to improving social care services and know well the workforce challenges that the adult social care sector in particular faces. Over the last couple of years we have increased the pay for social care workers by more than 14 per cent.
“It is disappointing the negotiations for the National Care Home Contract between COSLA and Scottish Care have not been able to reach resolution. The Scottish Government is not a party to the negotiations, but we note that COSLA’s offer reflects increased costs, including higher energy costs.
“We will continue to engage with both parties and contingency planning is under way locally to minimise the impact on residents and their families.”
Local MSP Maree Todd, who has close connections to Ullapool, said: "As local MSP, I am keen to see a sustainable and adaptable social care model implemented in Ullapool that ensures high-quality care and responds to the evolving needs of the community. I recognise that secure employment opportunities that are rooted in fair work principles will be essential to achieving this."
She said she would continue to work locally on the issues facing Ullapool.
