Buckie’s New £2m Nursing Home Gives Much-Needed Dementia Beds

A new £2million nursing home was officially opened at Buckie yesterday, bringing eight new dementia beds to Moray.

Burnbank House has been built behind the existing Parklands Care Home on the High Street, and includes four assisted living suites and accommodation for 12 nursing home residents and eight dementia patients.

Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Claire Russell officially opened the unit, which was built by Elgin firm Robertson.

Parklands managing director Ron Taylor, who was born and brought up at Buckie, said the new home had created 25 jobs for Buckie residents.

He said: “It’s important for the residents to be looked after by local people because it creates a family atmosphere.”

Buckie councillor Joe Mackay, who has first-hand experience of degenerative illness, welcomed the eight new beds for patients suffering from dementia.

His wife Nellie died last year from Alzheimer’s disease, after a gradual decline over three years.

He said: “Due to people living longer into old age, residential homes are more in demand.

“The original home has been here for about 40 years and the care has always been exemplary.”

NHS Grampian yesterday confirmed the dementia ward at Buckie’s Seafield Hospital would remain open.

Concerns about the future of the 30-bed Muirton Ward had been raised in April last year by local councillors at a meeting of Moray Council’s education and social services committee.

Buckie councillor Gordon McDonald and Keith and Cullen councillor Gary Coull had been approached by several residents who feared it was to close and facilities moved to Elgin, but NHS chiefs insist this is not the case.