Relief as Newtonmore care home is saved from closure
NHS Highland and The Highland Council have reached an agreement with the joint administrator operating Main’s House to enable the service to continue at the care home in Newtonmore.
The company that previously operated Main’s House care home went into administration in March, last year.
Since then there has been uncertainty over the facility with the former company's other care home – Grandview House in Grantown – closing down a short time after the same operator went to the wall.
The local authority is to purchase the building from the joint administrator, Grant Thornton UK LLP, and NHS Highland will run the care home.
The public agencies have said this will provide 'service stability to the residents and their relatives and employment stability to the staff that care for them' when the transfer of ownership takes place.
The decision to acquire Main’s House care home follows a collaborative review by Highland Council and NHS Highland of available options, including consideration of the facility and the locality’s specific circumstances.
NHS Highland will work with the administrators and the Care Inspectorate to establish registration, conclude legal matters and manage the transfer of staff and assets over the coming weeks.
Pamela Cremin, NHS Highland’s interim chief officer for community services, said: “We are pleased that the Highland Partnership has been able to ensure the ongoing delivery of local adult social care provision in Newtonmore at Main’s House care home.
“We have contacted residents and their families as well as staff working in the home to discuss the next steps involved in this process.”
Maria Dickson, NHS Highland’s area manager covering Badenoch and Strathspey, said: “We know this has been a worrying time for residents, their families, and staff of Main’s House, and trust that this will be welcome news.
“I want to acknowledge the hard-working staff team at Mains House who have continued to deliver a caring service over these last few challenging months.
"I look forward to working more closely with them in the coming months.”
Councillor David Fraser, chairman of the council’s health, social care and wellbeing committee, commented: “Following a collaborative and thorough appraisal of the options available for Main’s House, I welcome today’s announcement.
“We recognise that this has been an uncertain and challenging period for residents, their relatives and the staff who work within the home and I’m sure that confirmation of today’s agreement will provide some welcome relief.
“I would like to extend my thanks to colleagues in NHS Highland for their ongoing support as we move forward with this acquisition and enter the next stages of the process.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "Given the number of pressures on this sector over recent years, care homes across the country are facing significant operational challenges.
"The council and NHS Highland are developing a joint strategy on the future delivery of sustainable care models going forward."
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There was widespread shock and concern following the announced nearly a year ago that the two care homes had been put into administration.
Grandview House closed last summer but there were expressed at the hopes at the time that a buyer could be found for Main's House.
The facility has continued to operate through-out.
The Newtonmore facility was operated by Mains House Ltd and the Grantown home was run Grandview House Ltd, both owned by the Eavis family.
Speaking at the time, Dinah Hanid (Eavis) on behalf of the directors, said: "As a family, it has been an absolute pleasure working with so many wonderful people for the past 24 years.
"We are truly sorry that we can no longer continue to operate our services.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have supported us over many years."
