FM raises concern for residents of closure-risk home

First Minister John Swinney says the Scottish government has offered to help try and find a solution for about 40 residents of a closure-threatened care home.

Private operator HC-One said in September its Moss Park home in Caol near Fort William could close.

Highland Council and NHS Highland are planning as a contingency relocating residents to other homes.

On Thursday at First Minister's Questions, Swinney told MSPs the situation was concerning.

Responding to a question from Scottish Conservative MSP Halcro Johnston, Swinney said Health Secretary Neil Gray and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who is also the local MSP, had been involved in discussions on the home's future.

The first minister added: "The government stands ready to be willing and engaged to try and find a solution because the impact of the proposed closure is moving in entirely the opposite direction to the one I want to see things moving."

Residents' families fear relocation could involve homes far from Fort William.

Norman Calder, 76, whose wife Becky is at Moss Park, said he was worried she could be moved 78 miles to Lochgilphead in Argyll or 164 miles away to Wick in Caithness.

He told BBC Naidheachdan: "I go down to see her every day, sometimes twice a day.

"It's not nice having your wife in a home, but she is getting the best treatment that we can get for her.

"It would be devastating for people in the whole of Lochaber, not just Fort William, if Moss Park was to close because there is nowhere else for them to go."

Highland Council said work was being done to find an alternative to closing Moss Park.

Health and social care chairman David Fraser said: "We understand that this is a worrying time for residents, relatives and all involved, while we continue to pursue potential solutions for Moss Park residents.

"This is a challenging situation."

HC-One said in September it had been working with the authorities to secure the future of Moss Park.

It was among a small number of homes across Scotland that the business put up for sale in March 2021.

A spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, at Moss Park, we have long struggled to build and retain the full, permanent care teams needed to consistently deliver the high standards of care that our residents deserve."