Welcome For Kerr Announcement

An announcement of an additional £1.5m for care facilities in South Uist has been warmly welcomed.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Social Work Chairman Mairi Bremner said: “This is excellent news for South Uist and will considerably enhance services for older people. The development of the South Uist Care Centre represents much more than the replacement of the existing home at Uist House. The investment in housing improvement in the Western Isles, spearheaded by the Care and Repair Project, has opened up new choices to people about the ways in which care is delivered.

Extensive consultation took place in the planning of this resource, in which Daliburgh Community Council played a central and very constructive role. This showed the strong community desire to have a centre that provided support for people who can now receive care services in their own homes, as well as residential care. That is why the new facility, in addition to its residential beds, will have a high level of day care, including health-related services.

The renewal of care facilities in South Uist maintains the commitment shown by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to the continued provision of elderly care services, residential and day care, throughout the islands. While we will now be concentrating on the detailed implementation of this exciting new project, we also have our sights set on the development of a similar centre in Harris. The additional support from the Executive is going to give a kick-start to the whole elderly care programme planned by the Comhairle”.

Alasdair Morrison MSP for the Western Isles, said:

“The Minister’s announcement today represents another significant boost for the Western Isles, and South Uist in particular. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, with its partners, will now get down to the business of building a new care unit for the elderly in South Uist. This will take residential care into the 21st Century. When the Unit is completed, it will represent the type of facility our elderly deserve and the quality of facility that we need throughout our communities. It will herald a new era in residential care for the elderly in the Western Isles. It is appropriate and poignant that this Unit will be built on the site of the old Daliburgh hospital. The Daliburgh hospital site was synonymous with professional health care since the 19th century. This association will continue with the new multi-million pound facility.

“I am particularly grateful to Councillors Mairi Bremner, Chair of Social Work Committee and Ronald MacKinnon for their assistance. The Director of Social Work, Malcolm Smith, provided invaluable support for the case we put to Ministers for this additional cash. Malcolm Smith and his team will now get down to matters of detail relating to this exciting project and construction should begin in April next year.”

“Andy Kerr MSP and his deputy, Peter Peacock MSP, both appreciated the merit of our representation and I am grateful to them that in recognising this, they have approved additional funding of £1.5 million.”

Ends

KERR ANNOUNCES £1.5 MILLION BOOST FOR
ELDERLY CARE FACILITIES FOR COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN


Andy Kerr today announced a £1.5 million boost to improve elderly care facilities on South Uist.

The new facility, to be based on the former Daliburgh Hospital site, will provide a high quality of accommodation and will enable greater resources to be targeted at people who are able to remain in their own homes.

Speaking during a visit to the Western Isles, the Minister for Finance and Public Services, said:

“I am delighted to announce this award of funding towards the development of the South Uist Care project. This will enable the older people of Uist to access a range of care services, including

This is in addition to services now provided at the recently opened hospital in Balivanich including acute hospital beds and continuing care beds.

“There has been a clear recognition that a new facility to replace Uist House was needed by the council and wider community, and this project will go a significant way to addressing those concerns.

“In addition to providing respite care, the building can be used as a resource centre and seven-day-a-week day care centre. This will have tangible benefits for older members of the community as staff will now be able to provide support on a daily basis to those requiring nursing care.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Section 94 consent of £1.5m has been given to Comhairle Nan Eilean, to improve elderly care facilities on South Uist. The project has a total value of £3m, and will be completed in 2005.

Contact: Chris Bergin: 0131 244 2967
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk