Government urged to act over Bield care home closures, Scotland

Government urged to act over Bield care home closures

The Scottish government is being urged to step in over the future of up to 12 Bield care homes. The firm has said financial constraints means it has to look differently at how the business operates. Unison has warned that the closures would be a "disaster", with about 160 elderly people losing their homes.

Bield said it was in advanced talks to secure a new provider for four of the care homes in Edinburgh, Fife and Jedburgh. Families and staff affected by the planned closure gathered in Glasgow on Saturday to urge Scottish ministers to intervene and protect the future of their loved ones.
Unison also told the meeting that up to 200 care workers were facing compulsory redundancy.
At least eight of the care homes are set to be closed by the spring.

Many of those currently living in the homes need special care such as feeding assistance or 24-hour care. The homes are spread across Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, the Borders, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian. Families have said the closures are tantamount to eviction and have warned of the detrimental effects of moving frail, vulnerable people.

Unison's Scottish organiser John Gallacher said: "We are disappointed that Scottish government ministers seem content to stand by and let the closures happen, when the lives of vulnerable elderly people are at risk, and the jobs of essential care workers in many Scottish communities are being jettisoned.

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