Call for councillors and MSPs to take 'significant, and immediate action' on Mo Dhachaidh care home in Ullapool as closure looms large
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Lochbroom Community Council (LBCC) has made a call for Highland councillors and MSPs to take 'significant and immediate action' on the future of social care on the north–west Highland coast, following the closure of Mo Dhachaidh care home in Ullapool.
Mo Dhachaidh care home in Ullapool was taken over by Parklands from Barchester Healthcare last August. But in January it was announced it the care home would be closing it on April 23, citing the most challenging economic conditions in decades. However, Parklands later confirmed that they may close as soon as March 10 instead.
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After a recent meeting convened by local group, Mo Dhachaidh Future, the Ullapool and wider community have decided to take action on the future of their social care for the north-west Highlands.
At the meeting held in Ullapool Village Hall on February 26, the favoured outcome for the care home's future was to encourage Highland Council to buy the buildings, and to commission NHS Highland to run a nursing home from them.
NHS Highland currently runs Lochbroom House care home in Ullapool.
Durness councillor Hugh Morrison also attended the community meeting, to raise concerns for how the closure will impact the whole north–west coast.
Lochbroom Community Council (LBCC) stated that they have also received messages of concern from Community Councils in Kyle of Lochalsh, Durness and all points in between, across a stretch of over 100 miles.
LBCC chairperson, Topher Dawson said: "I have convened a local group of concerned residents to campaign on behalf of the wider north–west coast. We are extremely concerned about the shortage of nursing care beds locally and in the whole area, which means vulnerable people are sent miles away from their home. We had a well attended local public meeting which gave us a clear mandate to require Highland Council to commission NHS Highland to re–open the home.
"Highland Council recently bought Main's House Care Home in Newtonmore as it was in administration, and we are calling for them to do the same here. Through Community Councils, we will be asking people to send an open letter to their councillors and MSP's calling for action."
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The campaign letter highlights some of the major impacts that the closure will have on communities across the north–west coast.
It says: "The facility is one of only two nursing care homes in the entire north–west coast area across 100 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh in the south to Durness on the North Coast.
"Our ageing population is already severely socially disadvantaged due to scattered settlements, with almost no public transport and critically under–resourced health and social care provision. Regular visits from further away by family and friends will be almost impossible, especially from those who work or have no car. The impact from this lack of contact will be distress and isolation on all sides.
"The impact of the closure is so severe that we, the local population, require to see you, our elected representative, take significant and immediate action to address and solve this matter."
