GMB Highlands and Islands Branch and the staff who work at Lochbroom House in Ullapool ask for your support in ensuring Lochbroom House stays under the management of NHS Highland. In recent months, there has been an approach from Parklands Care to purchase Lochbroom House which would make the priority care facilitator in Ullapool.

Our concern as NHS Workers, is that historically, private care providers have always had trouble attracting staff to work in care homes in the Western Highlands. We only have to look at our neighbours at Home Farm in Skye, who could not get staff needed to provide a sustainable service, this meant the facility was under used and had a significant reliance on agency staff at enhanced costs. When the pandemic hit, the local staff and residents were restricted in what they could do because of management decisions made out with the area, which resulted in a legal order to sell the home to NHS Highland.

We believe it is imperative that Lochbroom House stays under the management of NHS Highland. Not only will this ensure local people work in the facility but working terms and conditions are maintained. Additionally, it will mean that the management of the service, and ability to ensure consistency in care is protected for the residents. Furthermore, it would ensure that those making decisions in the running of the service can still be challenged and held accountable by the people who matter, the family members who have relatives using the facility.

Please support us in maintaining an NHS Care Service in Ullapool by signing the petition below: