Deafening Silence On Wade Centre

Silence has not been golden in the case of the Wade Centre. The vacuum that has existed since Highland Council revealed a year ago that the Kingussie facility would become a blueprint in the region for care for the elderly in the 21st Century has only increased anxiety among old and frail residents, their loved ones and health campaigners.

There are now claims that the provision of home care and day care at the Wade Centre have been reduced; that respite care prices have risen sharply, and that facilities and the building itself have been allowed to deteriorate.

Allegations have even been made that health and safety regulations have been breached that could potentially put residents and users at risk.

On the other hand, the council insists that it is business as normal; residential beds are fully occupied and admissions are continuing to be accepted whenever possible.

Everyone connected with the Wade Centre will be delighted to hear from Highland Council today that the authority is planning to spend nearly £1 million on fulfilling its pledges.

However, they will be dismayed to learn that the residential element, consisting of 30 care beds to be provided by a private-sector operator, is to be located in Grantown – nearly 30 miles from the Badenoch capital.

This is news to us, and no doubt the campaigners who had believed that some provision would continue to be provided at both ends of the strath.

Clearly Highland Council’s plans for the Wade Centre have moved on in the meantime without informing the Badenoch community.

The circumstances leading up to the intial proposals to transfer the Wade Centre to the private sector bred a lot of mistrust within the community, particularly of leading councillors on the full social work committee and their senior officials.

Nothing has happened in the intervening 12 months to alleviate that feeling.

Highland Council social work chiefs need to spell out to the community what exactly their £950,000 plans are for the Wade Centre, as well as their vision for care for the elderly in Badenoch.