Lochaber care home could be saved from closure

A closure-threatened care home in Lochaber looks set to be taken over by NHS Highland and Highland Council.

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

Concerns about the home's 40 residents were raised during First Ministers' Questions at Holyrood last week.

The health board and local authority said work was progressing to secure the purchase of Moss Park, and also the transfer of the service to NHS Highland next year.

NHS Highland and Highland Council said they welcomed "positive support" received from the Scottish government.

Highland Council considered a confidential report on the future of Lochaber care provision on 31 October and approved a recommendation to try and buy Moss Park.

The statement said: "While this is still only a first step in the process, and there remain a number of complexities to work through, it is hopeful this proposed way forward provides some certainty to care home residents and their families and the care home staff.

"A transfer of service provision from HC-One to NHS Highland is likely early in 2025.

"NHS Highland will seek to operate the home in the medium term, until alternative sustainable models of provision in Lochaber can be established in the long term."