Community presses for action as it emerges Mo Dhachaidh care home in Wester Ross village of Ullapool could close as early as next week
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THE prospect of a Wester Ross nursing home closing as early as next week has fuelled community efforts to look to the future.
Mo Dhachaidh care home in Ullapool was taken over by Parklands from Barchester Healthcare last August. But in January it announced it would be closing it on April 23, citing the most challenging economic conditions in decades.
It has now emerged it could close as early as March 10.
At a meeting convened by local group, Mo Dhachaidh Future, a favoured option was to encourage Highland Council to buy the buildings and commission NHS Highland to run a nursing home from them.
NHS Highland currently runs Lochbroom House in the village.
Ullapool Community Council chair Topher Dawson said he has assurances from Ron Taylor of Parklands that the building would be sold for £350,000.
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A Parklands spokesman said later: "There is no definitive date for the closure of Mo Dhachaidh. By the end of this week four residents will remain; we expect that they will be transferred to their new homes next week. So, it is possible that the home could effectively close by March 10.
"We are continuing to have discussions with the local community council about the future of the building, but no decisions have been made."
North, west and central Sutherland councillor, Hugh Morrison voiced concern in Durness and Kinlochbervie about the closure of the Ullapool care home.
It was also highlighted by a current staff member of Ullapool's NHS–run care home, Lochbroom House, that child care is essential in order to release staff for work.
Cllr Liz Kraft said rural health care models have to be different from urban ones. Many agreed care home residents who are a long way from home and do not get many visits can have a poor quality of life.
It was also pointed out by Mr Dawson that hospital beds cost around £3500 per person, per week, whereas nursing homes cost £1500 per person, per week, so there is a strong financial benefit in having care homes, to reduce delayed discharges in hospitals.
