The future of adult social care in the Highlands took centre stage in Fort William this week, where a major conference brought together politicians, practitioners and care leaders to confront the region’s growing crisis.
The Highland Care Conference, co-hosted by Angus MacDonald MP and Kate Forbes MSP, gathered NHS Highland staff, councillors, and social care professionals to find solutions to workforce shortages, funding pressures and the rapid decline in care home capacity.
It followed Mr MacDonald’s landmark report on the state of Highland care, which revealed that the region has lost nearly one in five care homes for older people over the past decade, even as the population aged 75 and over has risen by more than 70%.
During his keynote address, Mr MacDonald warned that the human and financial costs of inaction were already severe, citing over £154 million lost to delayed hospital discharges in ten years.
“Families will continue to face heartbreak as loved ones are sent hundreds of miles from home because there’s simply nowhere local to go,” he said.
“That’s not dignity, and it’s not sustainable.”
To address the issue, he renewed his call for the Scottish Government to fund four new 60-bed “care clusters” with on-site staff accommodation in Skye, Fort William, Ullapool and Fort Augustus.
Each integrated hub would offer residential and respite care, step-down beds and staff housing, helping to reduce delayed discharges, support recruitment and bring long-term investment to rural communities.
Mr MacDonald confirmed that following his campaign, the Scottish Government has agreed to form a new cross-party working group on Highland care.
“This working group must be a cross-party effort, backed by the Scottish Government, NHS Highland, local authorities, care providers and, most importantly, local communities to plan for the future,” he said.
“The ideas and expertise are out there, what’s missing is coordination and commitment.”
He added that:
“The Highlands can lead the way in rethinking rural care, but only if the Scottish Government steps up.
“There’s no shortage of compassion or commitment, only a shortage of joined-up action.
“If we can build a sustainable model of care here, we can build it anywhere.
“The time to act is now.”
Speakers at the event included Professor Andy Elder, Dr Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care, local NHS Highland doctors, and representatives from NHS Education for Scotland.
Dr Macaskill warned that “endemic age discrimination” remains a barrier to meaningful reform, while others highlighted the urgent need for long-term planning and greater recognition of the care workforce.
Kate Forbes MSP said the conference marked a turning point in tackling the challenges head-on.
“The Care Conference was an important step forward in addressing the real challenges facing adult social care across the Highlands,” she said.
“There was a recognition that the pressures on recruitment and resources are significant, but also a shared determination to find long-term and practical solutions.
“Going forward, I’m committed to working with those involved to ensure that everyone in our communities can access the high-quality care and support they deserve.”
The cross-party working group is expected to begin its work in the coming months, building on the ideas, expertise and energy shared in Fort William.
