"We will fight to keep Moss Park open"

In September, the owners of Moss Park Care Home, HC-One, stated its intention to close the Caol facility, which is currently home to 39 residents.

 

Care home provision is scarce in the Highland town and the only other nursing home in the area is already at capacity, forcing vulnerable older people and their families to look further afield for residential care, including specialist dementia care which is not offered by all care homes.

 

Caol Community Council called a public meeting on September 24 to discuss the forthcoming closure and help formulate a community response.

 

Maxine Smedley, managing director of HC-One in Scotland and Wales, answered people’s questions. "I understand it’s a really upsetting time for everyone involved," she began.

 

"It’s not been a quick or an easy decision. We first listed Moss Park on the market in 2021. Similar to homes in other rural areas areas, we have really struggled to attract and retain a full workforce to consistently deliver the high standards of care our residents deserve.

 

"We have struggled to find a buyer. So for the past 12 to 18 months, we have been in discussion with NHS Highland around what we might do to keep the home open, or what might happen in the event of a closure.
Three months ago, a buyer fell through.

 

"It became clear a viable future for the home was looking less likely. Unfortunately, we have had to make the incredibly difficult decision to begin the process of closing the home.

 

"Can a new provider take over Moss Park? The short answer is yes. We absolutely would listen to any offer made for the home.

 

"How long will the care home remain open? The answer is: as long as it takes to find new new places for the people who live there. It will remain open until every single resident has moved to the new appropriate care placement.

 

"Do we have other care homes that residents can move to? The responsibility for relocating the residents lies with NHS Highland. We do have other locations, but none of them are close to Fort William.

 

"It is a really unsettling time for our colleagues. There will be opportunities to stay with HC One but, of course, those will be within homes that are a further distance away.

 

"Could the community run the Moss Park as a community care home? We would consider any appropriate option that can meet the requirements of NHS Highland and the Care Inspectorate.

 

"We are working with NHS, Highland and Highland Council to make sure everyone finds a new placement that is appropriate for their needs."

 

The proposal to have Highland Council, in partnership with NHS Highland, buy and run Moss Park was outlined by Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. It is widely seen as the only viable option in the short term.

 

Writing to Derek Brown, chief executive of Highland Council, and Fiona Davies, chief executive of NHS Highland, Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “We have been made aware of the imminent closure of Moss Park Care Home in Caol, Fort William, which we know has come as devastating news to the residents and their families.

 

“Those affected by this threatened care home closure are heart-broken and distressed. There is genuine fear about their future. We have heard one 102-year-old woman ask: ‘What have I done wrong?’ and ‘Where will I be?’ This uncertainty is causing untold damage to the physical and mental health of residents, their families and those who care for them.

 

“I am writing to ask you to intervene as a matter of urgency, with a view to purchasing and operating the service, at least until other options can be fully explored. This would reduce the stress on residents and their loved ones. Keeping the care home open will also avoid additional pressures on NHS Highland, which would inevitably have to take some residents into hospital care to address their needs.

 

“Moss Park is a vital service to dozens of families in Highland. It is also home to 39 older people. Every effort must be made to keep it open.”

 

More to follow on this important story.