Will ‘temporary’ closure of Glen Centre in Aviemore for recruitment become permanent?

Fears are growing for the future of a favourite day care centre in the strath which has been closed ‘temporarily’.

The move at the Glen Centre in Aviemore has been made while a three-month staff recruitment drive is put in place, according to NHS Highland.

But families whose loved one are currently being offered facilities in local care homes instead have contacted the Strathy, local Highland councillors and their MSP with their fears that it may never open again.

The centre closed its doors on Monday September 9.

The facility, which has served the community so effectively since it opened 24 years ago, has lost some staff members recently.

The families claim that the reasons were the pay and the part-time employment offered for the work - and a careers fair held last Thursday at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort has reportedly not as yet produced any ‘takers’.

“It was a good day but has not as yet produced any feedback,” said team lead at the centre, Cathy Barnaby.

“Obviously we hope that lots of staff can be secured because we need at least three carers and an administrative worker each day, and we run from Monday to Friday every week.”

Deputy First Minister and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes told the Strathy that several constituents have been in touch with her office.

She said: “A number of the local community members have approached me with their concerns regarding the temporary closure of the Glen Centre.

“I have written to the chief executive of NHS Highland seeking assurances around future provision as well as an update on interim arrangements.

“I will do all I can to assist my constituents and recognise how highly valued the services are at the Glen Centre.”

Local Highland councillor Muriel Cockburn, a former NHS worker who is the lead on health matters, said her understanding is that the move is temporary.

She said “There has been a recruitment drive. With current staffing levels it was important to ensure support was available.”

One of the family members seeking reassurance over the centre’s future - who wished to remain anonymous - explained why several had taken the measures they had.

The individual said: “All the families in Kingussie, Grantown and Aviemore who use the Glen Centre got together to discuss this as we have heard rumours that NHS are looking to close this much loved and valuable service.

“Cathy called us to reassure us but we have spoken to the staff who are leaving and they have said it was only because of the law wages and the part-time hours.

“We got very little notice about the closure and should have been consulted earlier.

“We now believe this is just the way NHS Highland is going about closing it. This is totally unacceptable.

“Our loved family members will be in care homes soon. Why would they want to go there for day care now but that’s what is happening.

“This lovely service allows us to keep our mums, dads, husbands and wives at home for longer, with families who love them.

“My mum told me she is terrified about going into a care home for day care as she knows that one day that is where she might end up. She should not be made to feel this way.

“NHS Highland should hang its head in shame over this.”

Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban said he had been hearing rumours of a possible permanent closure but the question was being handled by Councillor Cockburn.

An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we have temporarily suspended the day care service at the Glen Centre.

“This is due to staffing issues that we are working to address. The day care service will be delivered as normal from Grant House (Grantown) and the Wade Centre (Kingussie).

“We have contacted service users and their families to let them know about this, and advised that any transport arrangements will remain in place.

“We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The Glen Centre, located in the heart of the village just off Grampian Road, has always been highly valued by the Care Inspectorate, and was graded ‘very good’ and ‘good’ in recent inspections.

“The Glen Centre provides a very caring and flexible support service where all service users are made to feel very welcome.” said the most recent report on the inspectorate’s website.

“All staff had established very good relationships with service users. The manager and staff were very committed to the service and its on-going development.

“Service users who attended spoke very highly of the staff and the service provided.

“They considered the service provided to be invaluable and were of the opinion that staff worked extremely hard. The manager and staff are committed to providing a service of a very high standard.”

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