Residential care for remote areas

SIR, – I read with interest the article by Chris Maclennan, “MSP backing efforts to keep remote care facility” (Press and Journal, August 17), but I am left with feeling of uneasiness and suspicion.

The article talks about a project worker being funded by NHS Highland to explore how a multi-functional hub can be created for adult care across the peninsula, but nowhere does it mention “the elephant in the room” – the single most essential facility that must be included, permanent residential care. It is simply not acceptable that those in need of residential care are placed in facilities many miles from their families, where regular visiting becomes impossible.

At a recent open day to trumpet the respite facilities, the NHS Highland area manager was asked why they could not offer permanent residential care when

they could offer short-term respite care. The answer was “We can’t get the staff ”. That answer beggars belief. When the new hospital is built in Fort William, I wonder if there is any likelihood of it not opening because they can’t get the staff!

I feel that the council’s working group is in danger of being sucked into an NHS Highland ploy to provide a “hub” which offers some useful facilities for the community but not the one that the community needs the most. We are assured that it’s not down to money but if that is true, then it’s down to a lamentable lack of will.

The communities of Ardnamurchan cannot allow themselves to be pawns in NHS Highland’s grand scheme to centre permanent residential care in larger areas of population, whilst using remote care homes for other less crucial services or closing the buildings altogether.

Alan Thomson, Kilcamb Paddock, Strontian