The doors of Strathburn House in Gairloch are open once again, marking the return of a vital service that means so much to the community.
For Maree Todd MSP, the reopening is more than a milestone, it is proof of the determination, compassion and persistence of local people who refused to see it lost.
“There was a huge outpour of trauma and distress from the community in Gairloch following the abrupt closure of Strathburn House last summer,” she said, recalling the upheaval when residents were uprooted and moved away from their own community.
She described the impact on families, residents and the care team as deeply upsetting, and said the reopening is testament to the spirit of those who worked tirelessly to bring it back.
During her visit with local councillor Liz Kraft, Maree Todd met staff, residents and the new care home manager, local man Kevin Maciver.
“Kevin is an experienced mental health nurse with a background in dementia care, who I had the privilege of working alongside at New Craigs,” she said.
“He brings a wealth of knowledge to this role and has thoughtful plans to develop a skilled local workforce and create meaningful career development opportunities.
“This will be crucial to building a resilient and sustainable future for the care home.”
Councillor Kraft said it was a moment of pride to see the home welcoming people once more.
“I’m delighted to see the facility reopened,” she said.
“The closure last year rocked the whole community, and they have been instrumental in getting to this point.
“It’s really encouraging to meet the new manager, a local man with knowledge and understanding of the community and with a vision for the future.”
For Maree Todd, there are still challenges ahead, especially in the wider social care sector.
She warned that Brexit and new visa restrictions imposed by the UK Labour Government have made it nearly impossible to recruit international workers, leaving rural areas like the Highlands under severe pressure.
“For generations, our communities have relied on the contribution of international staff to keep care services running,” she said.
“Instead of working with Scotland to address our unique workforce needs, Westminster continues to impose one-size-fits-all policies that simply don’t work here.
“Scotland urgently needs the powers to shape its own immigration policy in order to protect and sustain vital services like social care.”
The reopening of Strathburn House is a victory for the community and a reminder that with determination and unity, essential services can be restored, but it is also a call to action to ensure the long-term resilience of care in the Highlands.
