Controversial Lochaber 90-bed home likely to be approved

Proposals for a 90-bed care home on the outskirts of Fort William are likely to be approved, despite claims that it is “grossly excessive” in size and will create an “institution”.

Social work officials say a home of that size exceeds demand, while opponents also argue that it will only be economically justified by bringing in patients from the Central Belt and England.

This, say objectors, will have major social consequences for residents and their relatives and major financial consequences for both Highland Council social work departments and NHS Highland.

Kingsgate Developments Ltd of Cheshire has applied to build the privately-owned facility on a site near the £7million Fort William Health Centre, which opened last year.

The company acquired the site from the Apollo Medical Group, which built the local health centre and last year won outline planning consent for a 60-bed private care home.

It is also less than a mile away from Ardgour Road, Caol, where the council intends building a 32-bed mixed care and nursing home, which would replace 24-bed Invernevis House at Fort William.

A group of doctors who have a practice in the health centre are among opponents of the scheme, which will be considered by Ross, Skye and Lochaber area planning committee on Tuesday.

The Craig Nevis surgery GPs contend the proposed home is grossly excessive in size, and will create an institution.

They claim local demand exists for a 30-40 bed joint registered home, which will be met by the council’s proposals for the site at Caol.

A report from the applicant states the company’s analysis of the long-term care market suggests a 104-bed shortfall within a 60-minute drive catchment area, potentially growing to 196 by 2023. Opponents argue that a home of this size will impact substantially on the social wellbeing of Lochaber because of the strain it will put on health and social work services.

Staffing problems are already being experienced by the existing care and nursing homes, and a 90-bed unit will only make this problem worse.

But the company says it will create jobs and increase service provision. The home will accommodate residents who would otherwise be cared for by the council or NHS and will consequently ease some of the pressure on existing services, budgets and workloads.

“This represents a significant economic opportunity for Fort William and should be encouraged,” says the report.