Care home with four residents closes in remote village Talmine in Sutherland due to staffing shortages

Recruitment challenges have resulted in the closure of another care home in the north west Highlands.

NHS Highland has described the decision as “extremely difficult”.

Caladh Sona at remote Talmine, near Tongue in Sutherland, has four residents.

The health board said the planned closure “will ensure the residents can move safely into the nearest available care home facilities”.

It is not clear where the alternative accommodation will be.

NHS Highland area manager Michelle Johnstone said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision but this is the safest outcome for the residents.

“Without a planned closure there is a significant risk that the residents will have to be moved at extremely short notice due to the ongoing staffing shortages that we face in the sector. This process will allow a managed approach to the transfer of residents in partnership with their families.”

She added: “We recognise this decision will cause anxiety among residents, relatives and staff but we believe this is the safest approach.”

She praised staff at the home who have often covered absences during their annual leave.

The facility will close within 12 weeks and residents will move to “the nearest available care homes”.

All permanent staff will be offered redeployment to other community services within Sutherland.

The announcement follows the recent closure of Dhachaidh in Ullapool, which left just three care homes in the whole of Wester Ross – two NHS residential care homes and one independent nursing care home.

Dhachaidh, which was operated by Parklands Care Homes, closed due to financial pressures.