Following a decision by HC-One to close Blar Buidhe Care Home, the priority of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Health and Social Partnership is the well-being of residents, their families and employees.
HC-One has confirmed the decision to close the home.
Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said:
“Every care home place in the Western Isles is vitally important. To see a high performing, much needed and valued home close is incredibly difficult for the Comhairle and the Western Isles as a whole.
“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s priority is the wellbeing of residents, their families and affected employees within our community. Work is ongoing to ensure that all Blar Buidhe residents are offered alternative placements where they can receive the care and support they require. The Comhairle’s existing resilience and recent investment in the development of care facilities gives some flexibility to allow for a local response to progress. While this is positive it will be a challenging process that will rely upon the flexibility of staff and the support of families.”
In a statement HC-One has given the following commitment:
“All residents and our colleagues at the home will be supported to move safely to an alternative care placement. We will work closely with each of them, and with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible, and we will not close the home until each person has been supported to safely move.”
The Comhairle’s preferred option has always been the continuation of the HC-One managed service and the local authority has been engaged with the provider to support consideration of any viable alternative. The investment required to develop the asset to the appropriate standards has inevitably impacted on the feasibility of a transfer of ownership to a new provider.
Given the risk associated with the decision by HC-One to place the Blar Buidhe service on the market, the Health and Social Care Partnership has been exploring options to manage any withdrawal of service.
A spokesperson for the HSC Partnership said:
“Initial discussions with the Care Inspectorate have been positive, focused on exploring opportunities including utilising the award-winning Bremner Court Housing with Extra Care to support residents and retain the valued Blar Buidhe workforce. Now the position of HC-One has been confirmed, dialogue with residents and their families will help inform plans and the Partnership is sensitive to the stress such a decision by a care provider will cause.”
A spokesperson for the Comhairle said:
“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will work closely with NHS colleagues through the Health and Social Care Partnership to assess the wider impact of a closure on Health and Care Services and mitigate the impact to employees, residents and families.”
“The Comhairle is in the process of contacting residents and their representatives and will work closely with HC-One to secure alternative care arrangements for each individual.”
“While this work progresses, it is important that considerations are made for the wider impact of the closure on the local health and social care system. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will work closely with NHS Western Isles and other stakeholders to ensure this impact is mitigated.”
Cllr Paul Steele said:
“This closure again demonstrates the fragility of the reliance on commercial care providers in rural areas. The existing system enables commercial providers to withdraw services when business models/priorities change, leaving little or no support for Health and Social Care Partnerships and local authorities or other providers to sustain the operation of much valued care services such as Blar Buidhe. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has alerted Scottish Government to this risk on several occasions and will continue to make the case for real strategic review and systematic change.”
Blar Buidhe is a 38-bed nursing home that has performed well in recent care inspectorate reports.