Concerns have been raised about plans for a shake-up of specialist day care centres in Caithness.
For more than a decade, the Alzheimer Scotland charity has had the contract to run day care services at Longberry Alzheimer’s centre at Pulteney House in Wick and at the Couthie Corner at Bayview House in Thurso.
However, NHS Highland announced yesterday that it had carried out a review and had “agreed to explore options to increase flexibility” in the service.
Few details about the plans were disclosed, but the health board said change was required to benefit growing numbers of vulnerable people who do not have dementia.
The move has emerged amid fury in Caithness at a perceived “downgrading” of local health services, including Caithness Maternity Unit and the temporary closure last weekend of units at Dunbar Hospital in Thurso.
Nicola Sinclair, secretary of Caithness Health Action Team, said: “This is the latest in a string of news releases affecting healthcare in Caithness, and once again it is worryingly light on detail.
“The suspension of key services at the Dunbar, the closure of the Grant Street care facility in Wick and now this announcement regarding the Longberry and Couthie all affect the most vulnerable people in our communities; people who need to be well informed and reassured about any changes to their care.
“Unfortunately NHS Highland has not shared its plans, either with the Adult Services Redesign Programme Board, of which I am a member, or the staff and patients who are affected.”
Michelle Johnstone, NHS Highland’s area manager covering Caithness and Sutherland, said: “While the day service provided by Alzheimer Scotland offered excellent care, more flexible solutions are now required and we are in negotiation with a local provider with expertise and capacity to support improved access.
“We hope to make an announcement imminently and new arrangements will be in place before the current contract ends with minimal disruption for staff and service users.”
Campbell Mair, head of operations for Alzheimer Scotland, said: “We are working closely with NHS Highland to ensure a smooth a transition for service users and also that our dementia skilled staff will continue to offer dementia support as part of NHS Highland’s more flexible approach to day care support and outreach.”
