BY JACKIE MACKENZIE
There was a good turnout at a public meeting in Portree on Monday evening when the community was given a chance to voice views over the future of closure-threatened Home Farm care home.
The NHS Highland-run elderly people’s home is currently being overseen by the Care Inspectorate after major weaknesses were found in its operation, potentially putting residents at risk.
Organised by local campaign group SOS-NHS Skye, the meeting held in the Church of Scotland Hall was chaired by Fay Thomson and attended by local MP Andrew Baxter, Highland councillors Drew Millar and Chrissie Gillies, and SOS-NHS Skye members Neil Campbell and Marion Carson, along with members of the public.
Local people were united in their view that Home Farm is a vital facility for Skye and must remain open. They wanted reassurance from NHS Highland over consistent staffing of the home in future and an overall plan put in place to ensure it is sustainable in the long term.
Concerns were heard from the floor about Home Farm residents being looked after by many different staff as a result of the large number of agency workers used by the home.
The glacially slow recruitment process of NHS Highland was also raised as a matter of concern. It was heard it could take up to nine months to complete the process and put somebody in post.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Andrew Baxter, who was on his first day back at work following a health scare, pledged to contact NHS Highland on this matter.
NHS Highland has committed to providing residents and relatives with fortnightly updates on the situation at Home Farm and progress towards meeting the Care Inspectorate’s requirements and the latest update was circulated to meeting-goers.
An interim manager has been appointed at the home and the Care Inspectorate has agreed an extension to the timescale for completing the improvements until 25th August 2026.
Afterwards Fay Thomson, chairwoman of SOS-NHS Skye, told the Free Press: “Monday night’s meeting was very much about hearing from the local community on Home Farm. We now plan another public meeting shortly, on a date to be announced, when we will invite Arlene Johnstone, NHSH’s chief officer for health and social care services, and other senior management to attend and provide an update and answer the public’s questions.”
Local Highland councillor John Finlayson, chairman of the Skye and Raasay area committee, met with senior NHSH officers in Portree last week.
Councillor Finlayson said: “While I am still concerned about many aspects of what is happening at the care home, I was pleased to note the progress being made to improve things to ensure Home Farm does not lose its registration as this simply cannot happen.
“Most importantly, and from talking to staff and residents and the family of residents, those living in the home report being well cared for which is so crucial. Of course, meeting the requirements in the CI Improvement Notice must also happen and what is implemented must be sustainable. I have made it clear to NHSH that long-term planning and ongoing evaluation are essential as Skye must keep its last surviving large care home.”
