NHS to buy Skye outbreak care home from private firm for £900K
The NHS is to buy a privatelyoperated care home on Skye where ten residents died at the height of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman said yesterday this was the only way to ensure standards are maintained at the Home Farm care home on the island.
The £900,000 purchase of the facility from HC-ONE was funded by the Scottish Government, but it is unclear whether the firm stands to profit from the purchase.
Ms Freeman said the move will secure the“well-being” of residents in the home. “We have worked closely with NHS Highland and the Care Inspector ate to secure this,” Ms Freeman said.
“The future ownership of Home Farm by NHS Highland also provides an assurance for people on the island that provision of residential and nursing care in their community will continue.”
All staff working at the home will now be transferred to NHS Highland.
A total 30 residents and 29 staff tested positive for Covid-19 at the home during the outbreak. The Care Inspector ate took legal action to have HC-ONE removed as the main provider of care to residents following an unannounced inspection of the home in May that raised “serious concerns” about the quality of care.
The action was dropped last month following improvements in care.